A Publication of the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors

THE ARAB SPRING ONE YEAR ON pg. 04

EASING THE TRANSITION: Asylum Seekers in the US pg. 18 Reality TV Stirs Emotions on Refugees pg. 52 HEAL AFRICA pg. 42 CEO’s Message

Refugee Transitions exists to report on a wide modern day social mobile com- a look at one of STARTTS pro- range of refugee and human-rights issues of Correction: munications is certainly quite ex- grams that has had tremendous relevance to the work of STARTTS; to focus An article about refugee camps in the last edition traordinary. We can only hope that acceptance and success among attention on the impact of organised violence of Refugee Transitions incorrectly named the foun- the civic resolution of the “Arab refugee high school students, and and human-rights abuses on health; to provide der of the Centre for Refugee Research as Paul Spring” in countries where it has which, incidentally, is now be- ideas on intervention models that address the Ferguson. The Centre was in fact founded by succeeded is equally extraordi- ing trialed by some colleagues in health and social needs of refugees, to debate Barbara Ferguson. and campaign for changes necessary to assist nary, and manages to bring better the US. The STARTTS Capoeira refugee communities in their settlement process, governance and conditions to the Angola program is part of suite and ultimately bring together a vehicle for region within a framework of ad- of programs that STARTTS has personal expression. herence to Human Rights princi- been utilising to assist refugee stu- ples and statutes. Meanwhile the dents increase their level of inclu- Refugee Transitions is published biannually by the human-rights situation in Syria sion into the social fabric of high NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation continues to deteriorate as the al- school and increase their educa- of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) Assad regime struggles to remain tional attainment and overall well Address in power, with increasing reports being. The combined effect of this PO Box 203 of systematic torture and other integrated approach has been out- Fairfield NSW 2165 Welcome to the 26th issue of human-rights violations. standing, marred only by the frus- Tel: (02) 9794 1900 Refugee Transitions… and what Refugee Transitions editor Olga tration of not being able to deliver an issue this is! We are very proud Yoldi explores these ongoing this model to more schools with ISSN 14416247 of how Refugee Transitions has events, and the possible outcomes high refugee background student Editor continued to improve over the and ramifications from a human- population. Olga Yoldi years, and I hope you agree that rights perspective, from the un- There is a lot more in this issue [email protected] this issue confirms this trend. certain and increasingly bloody for you to explore and enjoy un- Associate Editor We are living in momentous urban battleground of Syria to the til our next issue which will come Richard Walker times, with many serious human- reconstruction process in coun- out in spring. Until then, my best Sub-editor rights situations around the world tries such as Tunisia and Egypt, wishes to you all, and don’t forget Mark Symonds reaching a critical point. where, amongst other develop- to pencil-in in your diaries the Contributing Authors: The main theme for this issue ments, efforts are being channeled date of this year’s STARTTS and Janset Berzeg, Mariano Coello, Max Schneider, of RT, as depicted in our cover, by the international Torture and Friends of STARTTS Refugee Ursula de Almeida, Karishma Rao Erraballi, is the unprecedented phenom- Trauma Rehabilitation Network Ball, the 17th of October, 2012. Barbara Ferguson, Belinda Green, Sue Maddrell. enon that has been taking place to assist people who were tortured Art Direction in the Middle East for well over by the fallen regimes. Symple Creative a year now, the “Arab Spring”. This issue of RT also explores Cover Image Of course, revolutions against the challenges and successes of Samuel Aranda unpopular repressive regimes healing trauma in countries that Opinions expressed in Refugee Transitions are hardly unprecedented, or the have experienced mass trauma are those of the authors and not necessarily the concept of a domino effect a new and human-rights violations, such Jorge Aroche official views of STARTTS. No material may be development, however, the speed as Congo and Sierra Leone, and Chief Executive Officer reproduced in part or in whole without written and concerted spontaneity of a in another resettlement country, consent from STARTTS. popular uprising facilitated by the US. Closer to home, we take STARTTS © 2012 STARTTS. Contents

current conflicts 04 The Arab Spring – One Year On Olga Yoldi

human rights 18 Easing the Transition An interview with Dr Jose Quiroga by Olga Yoldi 74 International Experts Combat Gross Human-Rights Abuses Janset Berzeg 78 Theatre of the Oppressed: Influencing Public Opinion Through the Arts An interview with Hector Aristizabal by Janset Berzeg

health 42 Heal Africa Barbara Ferguson 60 Sierra Leone: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mind An interview with Dr Edward Nahim by Olga Yoldi

agenda 28 Sunrise over South Sudan Karishma Rao Erraballi 36 The Neuroscience of Education An Interview with Louis Cozolino by Mariano Coello and Max Schneider 52 Reality TV Stirs Emotions on Refugees An Interview with Ivan O’Mahoney by Richard Walker 66 Capoeira: Counselling in Motion Richard Walker 72 Training at STARTTS Belinda Green 84 Event: Refugee Ball Ursula de Almeida and Richard Walker 83 Launch: From the Darkness to the Light

PHOTO: STEVEN RICHMOND A year ago the tyrants of the Middle East seemed untouchable. Today, Yemen’s THE ARAB President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been ousted, Muammar al-Qaddafi is dead, ex-president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia has been sentenced to SPRING 35 years in absentia, and Hosni Mubarak is on trial. The revolutions shook the foundations of these regimes, but the bigger tests are still to come. The question is will the Arab Spring flourish or will ONE YEAR ON it die a bloody death? OLGA YOLDI writes.

PHOTO: ROMAIN MATTEI 5 CURRENT CONFLICTS

ast January marked the one-year anni- versary of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that ended the dictatorships of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak, and triggered the uprisings in the Arab world. L On 17 December 2010, when the Tunisian fruit-seller Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year- old unemployed graduate living in Sidi Bouzid, had his fruit confiscated by police, he set himself on fire to protest against corruption and injustice. His death sparked a revolution in his country and triggered the people’s revolts that spread like wild- fire to neighbouring countries, shaking the foun- dations of undemocratic, patriarchal and rigid, old systems, ultimately leading to the toppling of four governments and threatening several others. Tunisians celebrated with prudent optimism, amid worries about high unemployment and economic stagnation that have cast a shadow over the revolu- tion’s achievements. While economically there is a long way to go, politically at least, Tunisia is on the path towards establishing a real democratic state. Other nations are still a long way from achieving their revolutionary ideals. In Egypt, the army still rules. It killed protesters, and has placed obstacles designed to preserve its autonomy. In Libya where there was not a revolution but a civil war, the coun- try has been torn apart by clan animosities and di- Opposition supporters pray in the rain March 4, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya. Thousands of protesters gathered for vided armed militias. Friday prayers and listened to a call to arms to join the fight against the government forces of leader Muammar al-Qaddafi to the west. PHOTO: JOHN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES.

6 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THE ARAB SPRING: ONE YEAR ON 7 Libyans load their belongings into a car in a destroyed neighbourhood in Sirte.

PHOTO: PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/ GETTY IMAGES/ OCTOBER 2011

8 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 9 Last March marked the one-year anniversary of Most analysts point at demographic changes, the uprising in Syria, where forces loyal to President political repression and economic stagnation as the Bashar al-Assad have forced protesters into an main root-causes of the revolutions. armed insurrection that according to the United Emmanuel Todd, a well-known French demog- Nations has killed more than 8,000 people, mostly rapher and social scientist, who predicted the down- civilians. In Yemen where the political situation is fall of the Soviet Union and the Arab revolution, far from stable, troops are battling al-Qaeda fighters attributed the uprisings to demographic change and in the south which remains partly under the control cultural growth. of anti-government groups who seized it more than “The birth rate has fallen by half in the Arab world a year ago. in just one generation, from 7.5 children per woman “One era has ended,” Gamal Banna, one of Islam’s in 1975 to 3.5 in 2005,” Todd told Der Spiegel. leading liberal thinkers, told Los Angeles Times. “But “Young adults constitute the majority of the popula- the new era, we don’t know exactly what is taking tion and unlike their fathers and mothers, they can shape.” According to him, the revolution never found read and write, but suffer from unemployment and a consistent political voice, nor social frustration … When more a comprehensive set of demands. than 90 per cent of young peo- “Young activists and rebels were “So long as the ple can read and write and have not enduring enough or entic- a modicum of education, no tra- ing enough to seize the moment. Syrian military ditional authoritarian regime will They still take to city squares but leadership remains last for long,” he said. their race for power has moved In recent times social frus- beyond them.” united, the opposition tration has been increasing with So, where is the Arab Spring remains fragmented and changes in the world economy leading the Middle East to? It foreign powers remain and requirements of foreign-aid may be too early to say, but some donors that have forced non-oil Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gestures during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni on the sidelines, the producing states to modernise trends are emerging. Mubarak. PHOTO: MARWAN NAAMANI/ AFP/ 2000 For decades the Arab world al-Assad regime is their economies. has been dominated by age- F. Gregory Gause III wr– ing autocrats and lifelong rul- likely to survive.” ote recently in the Foreign ers; Muammar al-Qaddafi took Affairs magazine that “a num- ments, and in most cases they succeeded. question that has to be solved is who is going to charge of Libya in 1968, the ber of Arab regimes, includ- The big winners of the revolution so far are the control the government of Egypt in the future. Is it Assad family has ruled Syria since ing Egypt, Jordan, Morocco Islamist parties that have won in Tunisia and Egypt going to be the military? Or the officials elected by 1970, Ali Abdullah Saleh became president of Yemen and Tunisia, had privatised state enterprises, en- and are likely to win in Libya and Yemen. the people?” in 1978, Hosni Mubarak took charge of Egypt in couraged foreign investment, created incentives to In Egypt, the Freedom and Justice Party, the po- Egypt’s transition grew messier when reformer 1981 and Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali became Tunisia’s kick-start the private sector and had cut subsidies litical arm of the Muslim Brotherhood won 235 Mohammed ElBaradei, who helped galvanise the president in 1987. These autocrats were able to stay in and state expenditures that previously consumed of the 498 elected seats (47 per cent) in the lower demands for democracy, pulled out from the presi- power by brutally suppressing the people. government budgets. house, while the ultra-conservative Al-Nour Salafist dential race in protest over the military’s continued Meanwhile, the current monarchies in the Middle “Such Washington consensus-style economic re- party won 25 per cent. That is a stunning Islamist hold on power. “The former regime did not fall,” he East have enjoyed even longer governments, with the forms exacerbated inequalities and made life more victory following more than 60 years of secular rule. said, “My conscience does not permit me to run for Hashemites running Jordan since its creation in 1920, difficult for the poor,” he noted. According to Gause, The military, which has come under fire over its -hu the presidency or any other official position unless it the al-Saud family ruling a unified Saudi Arabia since it had been believed that economic liberalisation man-rights records in recent months and faces accu- is within a democratic framework.” 1932 and the Alaouite dynasty in Morocco coming to would establish a basis of support for Arab authori- sations of having used Mubarak-era tactics to crush There have been complaints among young revo- power in the seventeenth century. tarians and encourage the economic growth neces- dissent, has pledged to hand the government over to lutionaries that there has not been much talk about These regimes have survived in recent decades sary to grapple with the challenges, however, these civilian rule when the new president is finally elect- bringing in democracy, freedom and social justice, despite democratic waves rolling through many economic reforms backfired. ed at the end of June. But as that time approaches but instead the focus of attention is about new al- other parts of the world. But now they are making Whether motivated by political repression, or they seem reluctant to relinquish power. liances that could allow the ruling military to reforms in the hope of pre-empting their own popu- soaring food and fuel prices, Arab citizens demon- Former US president Jimmy Carter, who met maintain its domination over the government and lar uprisings. strated their ability to mobilise against their govern- some of the generals last January, said: “The biggest Islamists. The military chiefs fear they could be held

10 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THE ARAB SPRING: ONE YEAR ON 11 “Amr Hazawy, a political analyst, estimates that the military controls as much as one third of Egypt’s economy. Democracy would no doubt entail more transparency and accountability for the military’s past and present.”

tionaries, mainly liberal progressives, leftists and so- “Islamists have for years provided the narrative cialists, who risked their lives and were instrumen- about what ails Muslim society and where the cure tal in toppling the autocrats, will not have much of lies,” Owens said. “The Arab Spring has increased its a role in the new government. Young people and credibility.” women are saying the revolution remains unfin- “Their reputation for being clean is unrivalled,” ished, that change will remain lacking and failing wrote Steven Owens in Foreign Affairs. “They have as long as they are not at the core of decision-mak- appropriated the rhetoric of reform and progressive ing. But this is unlikely to happen as long as the politics and have been uncompromising in their na- Brotherhood remains in power. tionalism, having consistently opposed the deal with the US.” he Muslim Brotherhood has been in- Many commentators are wondering how Islam volved in politics since 1928. It was will be integrated into a democratic system based on founded by the Islamic scholar and school civil liberties, without contradicting democratic prin- T teacher Hasan al-Banna, who was raised ciples. There are fears that Egypt’s deep economic and in a village but went to Cairo as a young man, and be- social problems could be obscured by religious battles, lieved the increasing westernisation of Arabic society while the priority should be on stabilising the country was a source of decadence and decay. politically and economically and making the neces- In the wake of the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate sary reforms. at the end of WWI, fearing Muslims were losing There are also concerns the Islamists will upset a their sense of religious and cultural identity, al-Banna regional balance of power in place since the 1970s, created a broad movement to preach faith as the key and that US influence in the region might diminish. to social and economic justice. His model of political On the other hand, the peace treaty with Israel hangs Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak meets with Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan in Cairo as protests in the city continue for the 15th consecutive day calling for his resignation and an end to his activism combined with Islamic charity work spread in the balance. Brotherhood officials have assured the regime. PHOTO: KHALED DESOUKI/ AFP/ FEBRUARY 2011 throughout the Muslim world. By the 1940s, it had US that they will abide by the 32-year-old Camp an estimated two million members. David Accord, which is considered a cornerstone of Today it is a global organisation with autonomous stability in the region, but they say they want to rene- accountable for the corruption of the old regime, ian oversight over its budget, its arm deals, its vast busi- branches. Hamas in Gaza is a Muslim Brotherhood gotiate some provisions. human-rights abuses and the death of at least 100 ness interest and the pay scale for its top brass”. offshoot. In general, the Brotherhood believes in the Emad Gad, an Egyptian specialist on Israeli stud- protesters since they assumed power. They want to According to Mayton, the military loaned the primacy of Muslim law, in the supremacy of Islam ies, told Associated Press that the Brotherhood feared secure the Muslim Brotherhood’s support to retain central bank $1 billion to help support the sagging and in the idea that women and men should play its base. “Raised and fed on hatred of Israel. They have some role in government, to avoid prosecution, and Egyptian pound. “The transaction not only point- their traditional roles in society, although there is a been told for decades that any deal with Israel is cor- keep their own economic interests. ed out the relative wealth of the two institutions, broad diversity of opinions and interpretations of rupt … They know that Egypt is not Gaza and any On the other hand, The Brotherhood’s willing- but also the extent to which the army has access to these views. Since its inception the movement op- ruling party must respect treaties inherited from pre- ness to collaborate with the military comes from its money beyond the reach of the civilian authorities posed violence as a means of achieving its objectives. vious governments because they can’t risk deteriora- realisation that the generals wield massive power to whom it is supposed to be reporting.” In 1949, al-Banna was murdered by government tion of relations with America, or even Israel.” and could derail the democratic process that has Amr Hazawy, a political analyst, estimates that the agents and, in 1954, Gamal Abdul Nasser banned the There is no doubt that there are high expectations benefited the Islamists. According to the Jerusalem military controls as much as one third of Egypt’s movement, throwing many of its members into jail. placed on the Brotherhood, which may need to tread Post, Egypt’s army elite is engaged in many profit- economy. Democracy would no doubt entail more The movement withdrew after that and had to wait carefully both at home and abroad. Its leaders have able businesses, as owners of a vast empire of facto- transparency and accountability for the military’s 60 years to win government. The moment has now proven somehow adept at playing politics but there ries, tourist resorts and real estate developments. past and present. come for the Brotherhood. The question is what will are challenges ahead. Between now and the end of “No one knows the extent of the Egyptian military’s The big losers of the revolution so far are the they do with it. June there will be elections for parliament’s upper economic holdings because successive authoritarian young people, women and members of ethnic mi- John Owens wrote recently, in the New York Times, house, or Shura Council; the drafting of a new con- regimes have made sure it was kept secret,” Joseph norities, who now feel excluded from the decision- that political Islam is now thriving because it is tap- stitution; a nationwide referendum on the document; Mayton wrote, “The military wants language in the making process. ping into the ideological roots that were kept alive and and then presidential elections. next constitution that would spare the army any civil- It is paradoxical that these same young revolu- boosted by the failure of Nasserism and Baathism. It certainly will be interesting to see how the

12 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THE ARAB SPRING: ONE YEAR ON 13 Brotherhood evolves from a grass-roots religious entire region, particularly, the looming prospects of the Arab peace plan aimed at ending the crisis, but shut down their operations. Questions are now be- organisation, with limited political experience, to a an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran it may continue to face resistance from Russia. ing asked whether the economic setbacks will over- government that is inclusive, able to negotiate with and pro-Iranian forces Hezbollah and Hamas. Last January, Moscow invited the Syrian take the social gains made by the revolutions. the young revolutionaries and the military, and make On the other hand, the Syrian opposition government and the opposition for talks but this In Egypt, where tourism and trade revenues are institutional reforms to eradicate corruption and remains fragmented, disorganised and leaderless, with came much too late. The opposition wants al-Assad drying up and political instability has halted foreign poverty, setting the tone for a new model of Middle the several resistance groups that have emerged dur- out, they don’t want negotiations. investment, 40 per cent of the population are living Eastern democracy. There will be challenges along ing the crackdown operating independently from The government decreed that a referendum on US$2 a day or less and the instability is pushing the way, probably difficult years ahead, but those who one another. on the new draftconstitution was held late Feb- millions ever closer to the poverty line. voted for them will expect nothing less. The most prominent is the Free Syrian Army ruary but the opposition has made clear that it rejects Egypt’s central bank has been spending about (FSA), under the leadership of Colonel Riyadh any political moves by the government while there US$2 billion in foreign reserves a month as it tries hile the dust may be starting to set- al-Assad, but media reports say it is limited and are still violent attacks against protesters. to plug a balance of payments deficit while keeping tle in Egypt, the situation is quickly under-resourced. “So long as the Syrian military leadership the Egyptian pound stable against the dollar. deteriorating in Syria, which is ex- It claims to have 15,000 defectors in its ranks and remains united, the opposition According to media reports, W periencing a protracted and deadly it has been said that it is the only armed force fighting remains fragmented, and for- Egypt will need US$10 billion struggle over its political future. The uprising against against government troops and protecting civilians. eign powers remain onthe side- to meet its debts, and with gov- the Bashar al-Assad government by forces and rebel But other independent rebel groups are also recruit- lines, the al-Assad regime is like- “Without developing ernment reserves dropping by 50 groups continues unabated. ing civilians and army defectors. While these groups ly to survive,” Landis says. a robust private per cent last year, there is barely Syria’s Interior Minister Mohammed Shaar said are doing most of the fighting they are operating in- Inaction however is having enough money to cover the next the crackdown would go on. “Security forces will dependently from the FSA. its price. The question is how sector and without three months’ imports, and this continue their struggle to clean Syria’s soil of out- The Syrian National Council (SNC) is Syria’s many more lives will it take. reducing the region’s could lead to food shortages. laws,” he told the media recently. leading opposition coalition although it hasn’t been How many more women will be The generals have made a Analysts say that Syria’s transition is likely to be recognised by the international community, and re- made widows and children or- dependence on natural request to the IMF for US $3.2 lengthy and violent, despite rapidly deteriorating mains highly factionalised. phans before the international resources, the gains billion in aid to prop up the economic and security conditions. The main reason is According to Michael Weiss from Foreign Affairs community agrees to confront economy. that the regime remains strong, with a well-resourced magazine, intervention would be premature because the al-Assad regime. A few that the Arab world “The economy faces chal- professional army, loyal to the president. “Syria’s various opposition groups have yet to coalesce weeks ago al-Assad agreed to a has made in literacy lenges that have to be addressed The military hasn’t turned against Syria’s president into a unified political force worth backing”. cease fire starting from April 10 by an economic program that and government officials haven’t defected in signifi- According to Weiss, the SNC lacks the leverage but violence has continued and and health cannot be safeguards stability and creates cant numbers. The broader Alawi community is likely to pull varying factions of the insurgency under there is no sign of an end to the translated into lasting conditions for a strong recovery,” to remain loyal to the regime and oppose democratic its umbrella. It doesn’t have the power to establish a crackdown. the IMF’s mission to Egypt said. reforms, which is what the Sunni majority want. clear chain of command for the rebel forces on the economic prosperity.” Public revenues have fallen The University of Oklahoma’s Joshua Landis says, ground. This makes it difficult for a foreign interven- he revolutions have by 77 per cent in Yemen and “It is hard to determine whether this is due to the tion to succeed. sunk most of the co- 84 per cent in Libya damaging rapaciousness of a corrupt elite, the bleak prospects Most resistance groups see the urgent need for in- untries into economic the ability of governments to that the Alawi community faces in a post al-Assad tervention and have called for bombing raids on stra- T crises. According to political-risk con- deliver basic and essential services. Syria, or the weak faith that many people place in de- tegic targets, a no-fly zone and a buffer zone. They sultancy Geopolicity, which conducted an In January, leaders of the Arab Spring sought mocracy and power-sharing formulas.” want the international community to provide them analysis of IMF data in October, the up- to assure the world’s elite in Davos that the rise of The UN Security Council has so far been unable to with arms, support and money. risings have cost US$55 billion, with Libya political Islam was not a threat to democracy, and intervene because of Russian and Chinese vetoes and But there appears to be no international inclina- and Syria being the biggest losers, followed by pleaded for help creating jobs and satisfying the the Arab League suspended its monitoring mission tion for a Libya-style intervention. So far Washington Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and Yemen. hunger of their peoples for a better life. because of increasing violence, sending signals that has expressed reservation about intervention and it is Both Tunisia and Egypt are beset by high Failure to lure investments will continue to regional efforts to halt the bloodshed have failed and now considering how it could support the opposition levels of inflation, unemployment and poverty, threaten the transition to democracy and even spark the only alternative is foreign intervention. The UN- by sending medical assistance or helping to create a left by decades of government corruption and the more protests. The support promised by the G8 last Arab League special envoy to Syria also failed to con- safe zone within the country to protect the civilian recent revolutions. May hasn’t materialised. vince the regime to stop the bloodshed. Because of population close to the Syrian-Turkish border. In Tunisia, the economy has suffered from loss- According to a report issued by Geopolicity, Syria’s position at the cross-roads of the Middle East NATO, Turkey, and the Arab world have not es that have amounted to $2.5 billion Tunisian di- the slow pace of European financial support is conflict, there is a fear that foreign intervention could shown any inclination to intervene either. The UN nars. Foreign direct development has fallen by 20 largely explained by the unprecedented fiscal crises spark a civil war that could engulf and destabilise the is holding talks on a new resolution and will discuss per cent and more than 80 foreign companies have sweeping European countries, on the back of a decade

14 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THE ARAB SPRING: ONE YEAR ON 15 of expensive military campaigns in Afghanistan and A woman holding an wounded relative during Iraq; the fact that the UK and France tied up resourc- the Yemen uprising. es in Libya, and the absence of a clear road-map to PHOTO: SAMUEL ARANDA/CORBIS/ facilitate EU and US engagement. The US Congress NEW YORK TIMES (2012 WORLD is still to approve $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt. PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR) “The risks are clear,” the report says, “Unless the drivers of change in each country are strategically en- gaged and a region-wide support program conceived, the outcome of the uprising will be unknown and could potentially be regressive.” Yet the opportunity for a positive outcome has never been clearer. Experts on the region say that while aid is urgently needed, it must be accompanied by real economic reforms that succeed in transforming the economies and address the longstanding development challenges facing the region. Oxford University’s Adeel Malik and former Jordanian Finance Minister Bassim Awadallah wrote in their paper The Economics of the Arab Spring “During the next decade an estimated 100 million jobs need to be created in the Middle East. The public sector, already bloated and insufficient, is unprepared to meet this employment challenge.” Both authors say that economic diversification is the key to economic development. “Without developing a robust private sector and without re- ducing the region’s dependence on natural resources, the gains that the Arab world has made in literacy and health cannot be translated into lasting eco- nomic prosperity.” According to the authors, the region (the Middle East and North Africa) is the largest spender on defence (as a share of GDP). They blame eco- nomic fragmentation, the absence of a large con- Suggestions have been made by the former Egyptian the US Institute of Peace. “It was its vision for change, economic growth and regional security nected market and excessive dependence on natural foreign minister and Arab League secretary gen- a new prosperous Europe built on innovation and would begin to redress the region’s pressing prob- resources as the major contributing factors for the eral Amr Moussa that there is a need for a type of partnership, collective problem solving, innovative lems,” She said. lack of economic development. Marshall Plan with immediate impact to tackle the ideas, and an integrated approach that recognised While the final chapters of the Arab Spring According to them what is needed is an infra- region’s challenges. the interplay of politics, economic and security are yet to be written, it has certainly presented structure that connects regional economies; de- Since neither the US nor Europe can afford with a particular focus on building regional eco- a historical opportunity for the Arab world to turn centralised control of the economies; and above the massive aid flows that would underpin a Mar- nomic integration.” stunted states into peaceful and prosperous nations all, the eradication of arbitrary regulations that in- shall Plan’s success, it has been suggested that the Yacoubian said that a Marshall Plan-inspired and the chance to realise its vast potential. hibit the movement of goods and labour across bor- oil-rich Arab Gulf, together with powerful emerg- strategy for the Arab world would seek to lay the It is now the right time for the international ders. All of these challenges, they write, need a re- ing economies such as China, India, Brazil foundations for successful political and economic community to respond with a region-wide assis- gional approach. and Turkey would need to shoulder much of transitions. It would build strong partnerships be- tance program led by Arab states, so that the Arab There is no doubt that a paradigm shift and the burden. tween the UN, European Union, Gulf and emerg- Spring can flourish. Otherwise, the Arab world a new vision will be needed to achieve the type of “The Marshall Plan [implemented after WWII] ing economics and the Arab world. could miss this unique opportunity. Unfortunately, regional economic integration that they recommend. was not simply money,” said Mona Yacoubian from “A holistic approach that focuses on political history is filled with missed opportunities.

16 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THE ARAB SPRING: ONE YEAR ON 17 EASING THE TRANSITION Asylum Seekers in the US

Santiago De Chile: A tank moves forward in a street in downtown Santiago amid shootings from the Palacio de la Moneda soldiers, 11 September 1973, during the military coup against President Salvador Allende. PHOTO: PRENSA LATINA/AFP PHOTO

18 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 19 HUMAN RIGHTS

Chilean born Dr Jose Quiroga is a founder and director of the Program for Torture Victims in the US. He is also a member of the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility and former vice-president of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims. He is a co-author of several papers on the effects of torture. DR QUIROGA visited STARTTS recently.

Interview by Olga Yoldi

Your interest in the effects of went into a room. He did not say tained. The rest of the people were torture must have been trig- anything to us and closed the door still lying on the ground. They gered by the 1973 coup in behind him. A few minutes went were Allende’s ministers and some Chile. You were at the Palace past. We were wondering what he doctors who happened to be part of La Moneda with former was doing there, all by himself, so of Allende’s political inner circle. President Salvador Allende we decided to open the door. He Allende himself was a doctor. The when the army overthrew his was sitting alone facing the door. Health Minister and other minis- government. What happened At that precise moment Allende ters were detained. All the oth- that day? shot himself. We saw his head vir- ers were killed by the military. It was a very traumatic event. I was tually disappearing from the im- inside the palace. I never thought pact. We all saw the same thing. You stayed in Chile for a while for a moment that anything would That was a traumatic experience, after the coup. How was life in happen to me, but evidently, I was although I did not feel anything at Chile during the dictatorship? wrong. When I think about it, the the time. But 25 years later, when It was very difficult because we chances of surviving that coup I wrote about the events of that were all harassed and downgrad- were very small. fateful day in detail, I suddenly ed in our jobs. After a long while The battle for La Moneda started experienced an intense grief, a I was able to resume my work at towards eight o’clock in the morn- very profound sadness, then I re- the university. I had had a senior ing. Around 10 the front door alised how badly it had affected position there. I was in fact treat- was open and many people left me psychologically. This proved ed as a second-class citizen, really. at the request of the president. A that when you live through a trau- The conditions in which we lived few of us chose to stay there with matic event sooner or later you and worked were not very good. Allende. Nobody knew at that will go through a grieving process. At the same time, there were stage what was going to happen lots of people living under- to us. Towards two o’clock in the Were you arrested when you ground, clandestinely in safe afternoon Allende decided to sur- left the Palace? houses who needed medical care render. A white flag was raised. We were detained for a few hours. and I would provide it for them. That marked the end of Allende’s We were not interrogated. Later There were few doctors willing Chilean army troops attack the Palace of Government. I remember I was that night the general in charge to do that. Life became increas- La Moneda in Santiago de Chile during the standing, talking to two other let us go. He realised we were ingly difficult. After four years coup on September 11, 1973 against the doctors in a very long corridor. Allende’s personal doctors and I decided to leave Chile since I constitutional president Salvador Allende. Allende walked towards us and saw no reason for us to be de- had a job opportunity in the US. PHOTO: PRENSA LATINA/AFP PHOTO

20 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 21 “At that precise moment Allende shot himself. We saw his head virtually disappearing from the impact.”

You played a key role in setting there. Those people working for up the Program for Torture La Vicaria documented cases of Victims in Los Angeles, the torture. As time went by, new ser- first centre of its kind in the US. vices were established. What were the circumstances In 1977, the Social Aid Foundation that led to its creation? of Christian Churches (FASIC) A number of circumstances trig- was formed with the support of gered the formation of a social various churches. They offered -le movement that contributed to the gal aid for former political prison- creation of the Program: the po- ers and families of the disappeared litical situation in Latin America and those executed by the state in the 1970s particularly, and the for political reasons. FASIC also military government in Greece, provided a medical and psychiat- which was overthrown in 1977. ric service. The first medical direc- To everyone’s surprise, torturers tor was a member of the commu- were prosecuted by a court of law nist party. Nobody wanted to hold and some were incarcerated. such a position. Amnesty International published Later, other human rights non- a report titled: Torture in Greece: government organisations were the First Torturers Trials. Also formed. In 1988 the Latin a film was made, titled “Our American Institute for Mental Neighbour’s Son” in which tortur- Health and Human Rights (ILAS) ers were interviewed about their was formed. Health profession- actions. They spoke openly about als developed a model for medical the type of training they had had, and psychosocial care using vari- the torture methods they used and ous forms of multidisciplinary in- their experiences. tervention (medical, psychologi- That trial positioned torture at the cal, family and group therapy). It forefront of public attention. It soon became a leading authority was a major breakthrough in the on torture rehabilitation. advancement of human rights. I was familiar with the work At the same time, military gov- done by those groups in Chile ernments were ruling over Latin so when I arrived in the US in American countries - in Chile, 1977 I made contact with Dr Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Chris Nelson, a psychiatrist from in some other countries. The first Boston, and a group of doc- centre for the rehabilitation of tors that belonged to Amnesty torture and trauma survivors was International. They helped set established in Chile. It was associ- up the Amnesty International ated with the church, also known Medical Group in Los Angeles as La Vicaria, an ecumenical cen- and later the Program for Torture tre for all catholic, protestant and Victims. Our aim was to docu- jewish religious groups. ment cases of torture. A protocol The Pinochet government, while had recently been developed and being most powerful and able to I started documenting cases of control all institutions, never in- newly arrived Chilean refugees in terfered with the church, so those the US. That was 1980. Then we Former Chilean President Salvador Allende. IMAGE FROM THE FILM SALVADOR ALLENDE: PATRICIO GUZMAN (DIR), persecuted found a safe haven made a presentation of the first COURTESY OF JBA PRODUCTION / 2004

22 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 EASING THE TRANSITION 23 25 torture cases to an American about the effects of state terrorism celebrated 30 years of hard work Cases with strong grounds are About 95 per cent of our cli- even asylum seekers are better off Psychological Association meet- on societies and developed what and we are proud of it. The rea- granted asylum early, but it nor- ents tend to obtain political asy- than those, at least they have ac- ing in Los Angeles in 1982. Five is known as Liberation Psychology, son it has continued for the last mally involves a complex process. lum and for the remaining five cess to our program. Those with- new rehabilitation centres were which promoted community in- three decades is because of the For instance, the application needs per cent that don’t they will have out cover can go to community created as a result. Most of them tervention. The aim was to apply commitment and motivation of to be lodged within a year of ar- what is called ‘withholding of re- clinics, which are free but have don’t exist anymore. the experience of psychologists to those that work there. Perhaps rival. Sometimes asylum seekers moval status’ which means they limited resources and only provide I became the medical director. A organise communities, as a focus that passion was lacking in the lodge it after a year so they have may live and work in the US basic medical care. psychologist, Ana Deusch joined of psychological intervention. In other centres. It is interesting to to go to court as a result. but will not be able to apply for At the centre we have interdisci- me as a clinical director and we Liberation Psychology psycholo- note that the US government has If any of our clients need to go to citizenship and if they travel plinary meetings where we discuss started to make psychological and gists are seen as a resource for the never really prevented us from court, we will find a lawyer. Our outside the US, they will not be cases and analyse how the physi- medical assessments. But people community, offering expertise in working with asylum seekers, program has a number of lawyers granted re-entry. cal and psychological symptoms needed more than just an assess- research and an understanding of in fact, they have supported us. from the University of California Some cases take a long time, up interact. We all work as part of a ment. At the time, little or no re- leadership, group dynamics and Los Angeles, the University of to two or three years or longer to team. There will be clients that I search on how to treat victims of knowledge of the system. What types of clients do you Southern California and from be resolved. In other cases it be- see more often than the psycholo- torture existed. see at the Centre? law firms willing to do pro bono comes obvious that they won’t gist does because they have a med- With government funding, we Our clients are mostly asylum work. We have never experienced be successful. It is a difficult ical problem, but I can tell when were able to develop an inte- seekers, who come to the US ille- any difficulties accessing legal aid. for applicants because uncertain- there are psychological issues that grated service adopting FASIC’s “Chileans played gally and apply for asylum status. Of course lawyers will need phys- ty aggravates existing symptoms. need to be addressed and then I intervention model, which was a key part in the Of course asylum seekers and ref- ical and psychological evidence refer the client to the psychologist. documented in a paper writ- ugees are two separate groups of of torture. That is when we assist, So you provide an integrated Generally speaking, doctors in ten by one of FASIC’s founders, development people. Refugees come legally un- by testifying before a court of law model that includes psychiatric, the community have no idea of Elizabeth Lira, called Narrative of treatment for der the refugee program. The US and by providing affidavits. psychological, medical and legal medical problems experienced and Exposure Therapies. had a quota of 100,000 refugees Initially, most of our clients came services. It seems quite unique. by torture and trauma survi- We didn’t know how to psycho- torture survivors, as per year. Although, after the 9/11 from Latin America. Five or six Yes it is. I am a physician so I treat vors. We have to raise awareness logically classify the effects of tor- psychologists (FASIC, attack it was reduced significanly. years ago many came from Africa, all clients that come to our clinic. among psychologists and doctors ture or how to interpret them. We We do not see refugees as they before that from Vietnam and I do medical check-ups and pro- about torture and trauma seque- analysed and documented torture ILAS) in Chile and as have their own services funded by Cambodia (although they mostly vide free medication. I have an lae and keep them up to date with symptoms then we realised that refugee patients in the government. came as refugees under special agreement with a community new developments in treatment. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder When asylum seekers lodge their programs) and the rest came from clinic, which I use if clients need (PTSD) was actually included in clinics in Europe.” applications for refugee status they a number of different countries treatment: the Venice Family How many refugees have ex- that analysis, but at the time we did live in limbo even though they around the world. The types of Clinic. I use their services and perienced torture and trau- it, the term was not known, even have a legal right to stay in the US clients we have are representative infrastructure. If patients need ma? Are there similar cen- though PSTD had been actually until their cases are decided, which of conflict areas around the world. more complex treatment we need tres in other cities in the US? defined after the Vietnam War. can take quite some time. Asylum seekers and refugees tend to refer them to a hospital. That There are similar centres in San Those of us who were working Baro wrote a book in which he es- They normally apply for asy- to congregate in areas where their is when we run into problems. If Francisco, New York, San Jose, around the same time with torture tablished the steps for community lum under the UN Convention communities live. In Los Angeles we know someone that works in a and San Diego. California has and trauma survivors were making leadership and explained the type against Torture. They are usu- for instance we get a high propor- hospital it might help. the highest number of refugees discoveries that were very similar, of interventions that were thera- ally interviewed by an immigra- tion of Iranians and Armenians While health is a right in most and asylum seekers, followed by in Chile, the US and Copenhagen. peutic and could be conducted by tion officer, who has the author- because most Iranians and western countries that concept Florida and New York. We are But I think Chileans played a key not only psychologists but com- ity to grant political asylum if a Armenians in the US happen to does not exist in the US. People the only centre in Los Angeles. part in the development of treat- munity leaders. As time went by, case does appear to be bona fide. live in California. Often, family or have medical insurance provided Our capacity is limited. We have ment for torture survivors, as a body of knowledge was built up Some asylum seekers are in tran- community members help asylum largely by their employer, but of a budget of approximately $1mil- psychologists (FASIC, ILAS) in and conveyed to those working sitional detention until a lawyer seekers since they have to fend for course many people don’t, and lion, 12 staff and 100 new clients Chile and as refugee patients in with refugees. All that helped us is able to represent them. When themselves and don’t have access asylum seekers are among this per year. clinics in Europe. build what we know today. that happens, they officially be- to housing or any other services. group. The cost of health care is The US Government provides On the other hand, social psy- Nowadays the LA Program for come asylum seekers and can I have seen very few experienc- $7000 to $8000 per capita and settlement services to refugees chologists, such as Ignacio Martin Torture Victims is the oldest cen- work until such a time in which ing homelessness. Somehow they there are about 50 million people who come to the US under the Baro, wrote a number of articles tre in the US. Recently we have their status is decided. manage to fend for themselves. who don’t have medical cover. So Refugee Program, for the first

24 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 EASING THE TRANSITION 25 and trauma because they were What are your plans for the most countries. In Chile we had selected among detainees in the future? Bachelet until recently; Peru, jails. But there has never been a I plan to write the history and Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina and sampling that is statistically sig- the experience of our service with Brazil are currently ruled by left- nificant enough to know for cer- Ana Deutsch. It would also be wing governments. It is obvious tain. A study conducted among nice to document the history of that we need a fair and equitable Ethiopian and Somali refugees in this movement of rehabilitation system of wealth distribution. Minnesota showed that 50-60 per centres around the world. A few months ago we saw stu- cent had been tortured. So there I want to leave my work as a dents demanding a high-qual- must be large numbers of refu- doctor. I am in the process of ity, free, public education sys- gees/asylum seekers who are suf- looking for someone to replace tem in Chile. The protests grew fering from the effects of torture me. I want to focus on writing into a more general movement and trauma. during the time I have left. I want demanding constitutional re- Gaining an accurate picture to be able to document my life forms: improved pension provi- is hard because refugees are not and work experiences in a book. sion, new labour laws, and cor- going to identify themselves as I would also like to teach. Now porate tax increases to pay for victims of torture. Many do not I can see things from a much education and health. President acknowledge there is a problem broader perspective. Pinera at the time had an ap- and may not be aware of it. proval rating of 26 per cent, the When we conducted the study I guess you have been back lowest ever in Chile’s history. at the community clinics, it was to Chile. How do you see Similar protests have taken place evident that they were there be- Chile’s future? in Spain, Israel and the UK, cause of medical problems, but Chile’s and most of Latin Am- where young people are frus- they can’t see the relationship be- erica’s economies have been grow- trated and disappointed with the tween their past traumatic experi- ing steadily. Following WWII current status quo and the politi- ences and their symptomatology. Latin American economies grew cal and economic systems. by five per cent. After the cri- There are social movements, peo- Dr. Jose Quiroga, Co-founder and Medical Director of Program for Victims of Torture (PVT), speaking on Effects And I guess doctors don’t sis of the 1970s and 1980s those ple who are demanding change, of Torture. PHOTO: KURT LIGHTFOOT/DEJA VU PHOTO SERVICES know either. economies shrank. Fortunately in and we don’t know where this No. You can tell by the type the last few years they have been new impetus will lead to. But it of medical care they provide. growing again by 4-5 per cent is obvious that politicians need Of course in many cases doctors per annum, in spite of the Global to do something about driving eight months, and there are pri- ply for citizenship. can normally find asylum seekers lack the time and the knowledge. Financial Crisis. Chile’s economy change and making reforms to vate organisations, subsidised So far, little research has been seeking medical care. Around 7-9 Also, patients are never going to is predicted to grow by six per cent increase opportunities particu- by the state, that provide those conducted to identify the num- per cent of those asylum seekers tell their doctors they have been this year. The US is no longer the larly for young people. If they services. Those services are sepa- ber of torture and trauma survi- sitting at the community clinics subjected to torture. At our centre economic power that it once was, don’t, they won’t survive. We will rate to ours. All refugees have vors among the refugee and asy- had experienced torture and trau- we train doctors on how to iden- China and India are the new eco- see what will happen. It is quite medical insurance provided by lum seeker populations. Research ma. If we were to identify them tify victims of violence among nomic powers. obvious that the prevailing neo- the government for eight months, conducted in the 1980s in Sweden among the psychiatric population, their patients. We have medi- The problem in Latin America is liberal economic orthodoxy has after that, they will need to fend and Germany showed that an es- that number would increase. cal students and resident doctors that in spite of economic prosper- failed miserably. for themselves. Many organisa- timated 35 per cent of the refugee The prevalence of torture and attending our sessions. I wrote ity, income and wealth distribu- I hope the new economic mod- tions that work with refugees do population had experienced tor- trauma among the world refugee a training manual about how tion are far from equitable. Chile el that emerges from this will be not identify them as refugees .The ture and trauma. We have no idea population is unknown. I have to identify these types of patients is one of the worst cases. We need fairer and more equitable to all. government doesn’t identify them what the proportion is in the US. read widely about the subject. for health workers who want to acknowledge that the current These are interesting times in as such either. After the first eight A study to identify them was con- Among the Chilean refugee pop- to know more about the relation- neo-liberal economic system is Chile and Latin American. I be- months they are integrated into ducted in Los Angeles in some of ulation that arrived in the US, 100 ships between torture and physi- not working. No wonder left- lieve something positive is going the US society. Later they can ap- the community clinics where you per cent had experienced torture cal and psychological symptoms. wing parties have dominated in to come out of this.

26 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 EASING THE TRANSITION 27 Juba, Sudan: A woman who returned to South Sudan after living in the north carries her baby along with her ration of food aid at a camp in Juba on July 7, 2011 two days before South Sudan secedes from the north and becomes the world’s newest nation. Sunrise over PHOTO: PHIL MOORE/AFP PHOTO South Sudan

Last year, the world welcomed its newest nation: the Republic of South Sudan. It was a long-awaited dream for many South Sudanese people who have endured decades of civil war. KARISHMA RAO ERRABALLI reflects on the past and future of the world’s newest country.

28 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 29 AGENDA

REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN

Khartoum

Contested area of Abyei s Abuk Tong, a refugee meet someone like Abuk, one of the displaced. She [SPLA/M], was created in 1983, from South Sudan drives up to her home in Sydney finally left by train with her family, with no food the same year that another civil on a warm spring day, in her white Toyota sedan, and little water, surrounded by fear. The journey to REPUBLIC war began. with the sun setting behind her, she looks like any- Khartoum in Sudan took three days because they OF SOUTH The image of thousands one driving home after a hard day. had to keep stopping and checking for mines. SUNDAN of malnourished people carrying The scars woven above her brows, from her days In her words, she was one of the “lucky ones”. She little bundles and babies across a in Sudan, are slowly being re-etched with new lines, made it to Australia. In Australia, there are now parched red earth or young men A Juba re-writing her story. more than 20,000 people of refugee background strapped with machine guns and Abuk started her long journey from Aweil, a city from South Sudan. It is the fastest growing emerg- blank eyes are not very differ- ing community in the country and most of them of about 100,000 people, more than 800 kilometres 0 100 200 300km ent from what Abuk remembers. northwest of South Sudan’s capital Juba, in 1988, consider themselves ‘lucky’, like Abuk, to be given a SPLA/M represented the people when her village was attacked by government forces. chance to start life on a fresh page. until the 2005 ceasefire. She first left the city, which she says is “a water-side On 9 July this year, her home became known as But the men who had town, much like Sydney”, carrying her 18-month- the Republic of South Sudan, the world’s newest ties for southern Sudanese to hold positions in the once taken up arms have now transformed them- old daughter on her back, her six-month-old baby country, and the question now on everyone’s minds post-independence Sudanese government and fur- selves from a guerrilla group into a national politi- on her front, and leading her three-year-old boy by is whether this chance for peace will bring develop- ther marginalising the community and reducing their cal party. Today the top leaders are in key posts in the hand. She had a little milk and rice so that they ment and stability. chances of integrating with the ruling political class. the new government, the most prominent of whom is wouldn’t starve during the long nights in the bush. In the late 19th century, before Sudan became a Sudan was unable to form a strong central author- President Salva Kiir Mayardit. When she came back home she found livestock colonial state, it was a place of relatively non-hierar- ity that could control its territories and deliver the SPLA/M has an estimated 180,000 soldiers who missing, homes burnt down and everything worse than chical, politically organised social communities. pre-requisites for a stable nation-state, such as a ca- are all being absorbed into the armed forces of the she had left it. A few days of peace and the attackers Following its independence from the British in pable administrative arm to collect taxes, build in- country they fought to create. would be back. And she would have to run again. 1956, the region has been in a state of unrest, with frastructure, and provide health-care and education. But such unity has also seen many internal divi- “We had no security, little food and no sleep. Every a natural fault-line forming between the Arab- The de-legitimisation of the state led to a string sions in the past, with rifts between the different day we spent in fear of what was going to happen to Muslim state in the north and a predominantly of unstable governments who manipulated the re- factions leading to fighting and the formation of our family”, Abuk says matter-of-factly, as someone African-Christian and animist south. sources of the south and exploited the sentiments more rebel groups. who has been through too much to let emotions get The root causes of these conflicts are multi-dimen- of people by fostering the spread of Islam in an at- These internal differences meant ongoing violence the better of her. sional and have evolved according to economic and tempt to dominate the Christian South resulting in and instability, and severe consequences for those Sudan has been a theatre of conflict for more than political circumstances. more violence and underdevelopment. touched by the hostilities. four decades and has been described by the United During their rule, Britain and Egypt could not The first civil war between the government and the Even after signing the Comprehensive Peace Nations as ‘one of the world’s worst humanitarian bring the region together, resulting in a step-moth- armed groups in the south took place between 1955 Agreement in 2005, the number of people killed is crises’. The numbers are staggering: two million erly treatment of the south, which was regularly and 1972, in which more than half a million people estimated to be between 200,000 and 400,000, with deaths in two decades and four million displaced af- raided for economic gain while the development of were killed. more than 2.5 million people displaced. ter the second civil war broke out in 1983. its infrastructure was ignored. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army, and its polit- Indeed, Save the Children, a prominent NGO These figures however are just figures, until you Education was neglected, reducing the opportuni- ical wing the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement that has worked in the region for decades, gives us

30 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 SUNRISE OVER SOUTH SUDAN 31 asked her about her parents. Adhieu cannot remem- ber how old she was when her father was murdered in front of her eyes. She lost two brothers to the war and at the time didn’t know where her mother was. After the killing, she ran as hard as she could, with the people who were crossing the border en masse into Kenya, leaving everything behind, only looking forward. She lived in the refugee camp there for 10 years before she came to Sydney. Today she holds a plump little baby boy, Bior, on her hips and says, “I will only take him (to South Sudan) when it is safe. There is fear. Someone can just come and kill you for no reason. First, I will go and see; only if it is safe, I will take him. But only to visit, this is his home now”. She is, however, happy that the years of struggle have had a tangible result, “I am glad that we have our own country. It is a symbol of the sacrifice of the lives of my brother and father”. South Sudan is a rich country lush with fertile farmland, timber, copper, uranium, other minerals, and much of the world’s gum Arabic, or acacia gum, a key ingredient in making soft drink and ice cream, but still 98 per cent of its domestic revenue comes from oil. The third largest producer of oil, it generated about 490,000 barrels a day, and with independence, South Sudan now owns about 75 per cent of it. However, in the last six years about $6.8 billion of oil revenue Lost Boys were separated from their families and forced to flee their homes during the civil war in South Sudan. has been unaccounted for. Lokichokio Transit Centre, Kenya. PHOTO: P. MOUMTZIS/UNHCR Experts say that if this precious resource were used effectively, it could be the answer to the country’s poverty. Depending on the rate of extraction it could last between eight and 22 years. This means that the the harsh facts: South Sudan has the world’s worst The chances of a young girl dying during preg- government has a very short time frame to diversify “I am glad that we maternal mortality rate, one child in every nine dies nancy or childbirth are three times more likely than its economy. before turning five; 30 per cent of those who survive her completing eight years of basic education. Landlocked and underdeveloped, South Sudan is have our own country. are underweight or suffer from acute malnutrition. About 50,000 children have been orphaned in the dependent on Sudan to transport and refine its oil. Two thousand of every 100,000 mothers die dur- last 20 years and 170,000 have lost contact with Despite the dismal state of hunger, malnutrition and It is a symbol of the ing childbirth because health workers attend only their biological parents. disease only four per cent of the budget is dedicated 15 per cent of births. A fifth of children are acutely At the height of the conflict 17,000 children took to health and only 5.6 per cent allotted to education sacrifice of the lives of malnourished and only 10 per cent of children com- up arms and were directly involved in warfare. A compared to almost 50 per cent on security, the lion’s plete primary school. large number of these children have been psycho- share of South Sudan’s rather large pie. Presently, it my brother and father”. Seventy two per cent of the population is under logically damaged from witnessing violence, or from only seems to be protecting the strong. 30 years old and more than half are under 18. About the effects of the conflict being so close to home. Southern Kordofan, a contested border state in 45 per cent of South Sudan does not have access to Ask Adhieu, another South Sudanese refugee liv- north Sudan, witnessed the displacement of 200,000 clean water and 85 per cent of the people have no ing in Sydney. Dressed in a light-brown satin dress, people after daily bombardments, arbitrary arrests, access to sanitation. with daring blue eye-shadow, her smile froze when I extra judiciary killings and a long list of human-

32 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 SUNRISE OVER SOUTH SUDAN 33 victims of internal warfare. Finding their way back is not going to be easy. Not least because although the SOUTH SUDAN: state covers a distance of 650,000 square kilometres, AN OVERVIEW making it bigger than England and Germany com- bined, it has only 30 miles of paved roads. Population of about eight million Time magazine says that aid workers and develop- A landlocked country, the Republic of South ment experts are coining a new word for what could Sudan has a population of about eight million, become of the world’s newest country: ‘pre-failed has a predominantly rural, subsistence economy state’. Given the grim figures emerging it could and has been affected by civil war for all but well be true, unless it capitalises on its rich and deep 10 of the years since independence in 1956. well of oil. Evidence of a functioning state with infrastructure As a result of the war... being built – roads, schools or a hospital – can give More than two million people have died and people hope for a future. It can give them reason to more than four million have been internally lay down their weapons and share President Kiir’s displaced or became refugees as a result of the dream, “to give our children what the war took away war. However, on the 9th of July, 2011 South from us”. Sudan seceded from the north and became an Eighty per cent of South Sudanese are farmers, independent state. but agriculture accounts for only two per cent of the national budget. Investing in the sector could reap South Sudan’s economy huge benefits from the fertile land, help diversify the South Sudan’s economy is one of the world’s economy and make people feel rooted and secure in weakest and most underdeveloped, with their land. This could bring up the average wage of little infrastructure and the highest maternal 80 cents a day, which most South Sudanese have to mortality and female illiteracy rates in the live on. world, as of this year. South Sudanese in Sydney have changed the des- tinies of their children. Abuk’s son works as a me- Exports chanic and her daughter is a nurse. She has three It exports timber and has many natural more sons who are in school, awaiting a bright fu- resources such as petroleum, iron ore, Nimule, South Sudan: A recently returned southern Sudanese refugee family of the Madi tribe standing outside ture and living a fearless life. Adhieu has found her copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, a hut on the outskirts of their home town of Nimule in Eastern Equatoria State on the border with Uganda. mother in Kenya after 10 long years and now only silver, gold, and hydropower. The economy, PHOTO: TIM MCKULKA/AFP PHOTO/HO/UNMIS / OCTOBER 2008 wishes for a safe and happy life for her boy, “as long as in many developing countries, is heavily as he smiles, it’s good,” she said. dependent on agriculture. People back home in South Sudan must feel the Sudanese independence in 1956 rights violations by the Bashir government. are not relevant to the African context. Historically same way. As long as fear and hunger is a thing of In South Sudan alone there are 52 tribes who borders have been fluid, determined by tribes and the past, people can look towards the future with South Sudan and Sudan were part of Egypt have wound an intricate web over time, struggling evolving as the situation demands and may have con- hope. They have been given the right to rebuild under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, later being for limited resources. This seems further enhanced tinued that way without the West’s influence. their own country and come together as a democ- governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium “by a perceived inequality in access to political, He believes that, “Letting these (African) coun- racy. And there is some good news. Since 2005, four until Sudanese independence in 1956 social and economic opportunities,” according to tries reform into smaller nations might actually re- times more children are being educated than before. Second-largest wildlife migration Save the Children. duce conflict, increase economic growth and cost The sun is rising over South Sudan’s fertile earth Seeking engagement with all ethnic communi- less foreign aid.” and the government should harness this moment of South Sudan includes the protected area ties on an equal footing, disarming all tribes without There has been a start with South Sudan, and we hope amongst the people and write a new and better of Bandingilo National Park, which hosts the second-largest wildlife migration in discrimination, protecting minorities and allocating can hope that more lines are created, towards peace, chapter in their conflict-ridden story. the world, and the vast swamp region of resources equally is the obvious answer. before many more lives are destroyed. Sharing the spoils of their land and bringing pros- the Sudd formed by the White Nile. A solution, argued for by Pascal Zachary, author of The Kiir government must focus on its immediate perity can make everyone feel like they are fighting Married to Africa and former foreign correspondent problems. South Sudan has seen the influx of about together for peace, not for war. for The Wall Street Journal, is that traditional borders two million displaced people going back home, some

34 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 SUNRISE OVER SOUTH SUDAN 35 HEALTH

Recent work in neuroscience and learning suggests that the most effective adult educators may be unwitting The Neuroscience of Education neuroscientists, who use interpersonal skills to enhance brain development in a positive learning environment. This was the message given at a STARTTS seminar by LOUIS COZOLINO, a professor of psychology at the Pepper- dine University, California, and author of The Neuroscience of Education.

Interview by Mariano Coello & Max Schneider

You mentioned the brain is a of the experience of the other. social organism. What do you The brain evolved to be connect- mean by that? ed with, be regulated by, and learn For years the brain was perceived from other brains. Our brains are as a relatively static organ, deter- more like the ants in a colony mined by a combination of ge- than autonomously functioning netic programming and early structures. childhood experience. However, I think the brain is so complicat- recent theories and technological ed, and its functioning in so many advances in brain imaging have ways is so mysterious, that we are revealed that the brain is an organ still just at the very beginning. But continually built and rebuilt by of course the more technological- one’s experiences. ly advanced we get and the more We are now beginning to learn windows we have to the brain, the that many forms of psychotherapy more we can understand what is developed in the absence of any going on in there. scientific understanding of the brain are supported by neurosci- You have written about educa- ence findings. It could be argued tion, why is education so impor- that to be an effective psycho- tant for personal development? therapist these days it is essential Education is life. The brain is de- to have some basic understanding signed to keep learning. We need of neuroscience. to be stimulated. Education does We tend to think the brain is like not need to be in a classroom. any other organ, but the brain Education is a state of mind where connects with other brains so the you are open to exploration. If you fact that the brain is a social organ look at animal research, explora- gives us an understanding of why tory behaviour is a measure of the we are all connected, so that when absence of anxiety and fear. people feel something we feel So in a sense if you are out there it too. And that happens by the learning and exploring you are brain creating an internal model growing your brain. You are active, PHOTO: MICHAEL PHILLIPS

36 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 37 “So in a sense if you are out there learning and exp- loring you are growing your brain. You are active, you are activating the chemistry of neuroplasticity and connectivity to other people, so education is life.” you are activating the chemistry of of an old song that I haven’t heard neuroplasticity and connectivity to for the last 30 years and I can pret- other people, so education is life. ty much sing the whole thing. If you can be involved in formal So we have multiple memory sys- education, that is like a catapult tems. They store information in to get you involved in life, in the different ways and the more we can community and the world. There put things into narratives or songs, is nothing better. I would say that the more we are going to learn, and education is the conduit of accu- the more songs and narratives con- mulated culture, without it, each nect us with other people, because individual has to start from scratch they are social constructions. – what a waste of time. According to the current litera- You have mentioned that there ture, our brains are highly vul- are many ways of learning and nerable to dysregulation and one of them is through person- dissociation. Why is this so? al narratives. Could you expand The human brain has evolved into on that? a complex government of highly It is easy to learn a whole bunch complex systems responsible for of information for a test and not behaviours, emotions, sensations, remember anything two weeks and conscious awareness. Keeping after the test, so memory has to these systems coordinated and in- be incorporated, it has to be in- tegrated is an ongoing challenge ternalised and the way to do that that becomes impaired in the face is through experience and having of trauma. emotional connections to the in- Freud said that shock and extreme formation and putting it into sto- trauma surpasses our stimulus bar- ries. Our factual memory banks rier, which I take to mean our abil- are not very large. ity to use cortical processes to sort, Our memory banks for narrative organise, and integrate the various and stories on the other hand are neural networks responsible for limitless, so, if you can learn things optimal integration. in interpersonal narratives and in- terpersonal context and put those In your presentation today, you things in stories you can learn and said that our brains are designed remember an infinite number of to learn at moderate states of things because that is where our arousal, and that at high levels brain evolved. of arousal the fight-flight -re Before written history, over the last sponse is triggered. For many thousand years, all our learning was students from refugee back- accumulated in oral traditions and grounds – who complain that in many cultures that was subtle schoolwork is too complex – because our singing memory, our the implication is that the high soul memory are even greater. All academic expectations are hin- Young refugees studying in Malala village, where their teachers are also refugees. PHOTO: UNHCR / F.NOY / MARCH 2010 I need to hear is the first few notes dering learning.

38 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THE NEUROSCIENCE OF EDUCATION 39 One possible way to address this is enthusiastic state and just a little ment, on our own heroic jour- tence but we are number one in all of the relationships I’ve had and You have written a book about to consider a new model of teach- bit of stress are best. That is what neys, or on becoming strong the money that we’re spending. that I have experienced. ageing, The Healthy Ageing ing, one that integrates psycho- enhances plasticity and learning. enough to do what we feel is Something is not working. Brain: Sustaining Attachment, therapeutic interventions in the right as opposed to succumbing We thoroughly enjoyed reading Attaining Wisdom, in which you context of the classroom. In other In The Neuroscience of Educ- to the system. Your four take-home messages another book written by you, say there are many myths about words, to pair the learning with ation, you make the case for a It takes a lot of ego strength not to today were: there are no single The Making of a Therapist. One the inability of us to learn as we biofeedback, or with stress reduc- re-think of the traditional edu- succumb to peer pressure to con- human beings; the brain is a statement in particular stands grow older, what do you think? tion activities. cation system, and in particular form, to abstain from getting in- social organ; the cortex is shaped out: the tendency to take care Based on our evolutionary his- We need to consider alternative the role of teachers within it. volved in internal politics. But in postnatally by social interaction; of other people comes from our tory, brains were shaped to learn teaching models that help stu- Yes, I talk about heroic teachers in order for the kids to benefit and and the brain can be changed need to regulate others and, different things in different ways dents get into a frame of mind the book. These are teachers who not lose out, I think this is a must. to regulate and heal through in the process, heal ourselves. throughout life as a reflection of whereby the biochemistry of attend to and put emphasis on the Generally speaking the crisis is relationships. Can you elabo- How do we ensure that our care- their contribution to tribal well- learning becomes activated, so attachment and emotional connec- growing in education because rate briefly on those points? taking remains professional? being. Younger people solve simple that we facilitate the learning pro- tion between themselves and each there is more emphasis on tests In short, there are many ways in This is a lifelong challenge, as both problems faster while older people cess instead of pushing learning student in their classroom – over with less emphasis on the indi- which we are individuals, but also younger and older therapists seem solve complex problems better. on them. When we push learning, and above the curriculum pressures. vidual students, the quality of the It would be interesting to see what we risk re-traumatising. It can be I think the most effective teachers teacher-student relationship and would happen if you could live to painful and difficult and create a are those who can manage to do the quality of the classroom en- 122, like the Frenchwoman mad- negative set of expectations. So in this: to step away from the cur- vironment. I think we are actually am Calment, whose life span is other words, what hinders learn- riculum and make the attachment moving farther away, structurally. the oldest recorded. What would ing is primarily anxiety in the connection, or at least, to weave the “Education is a state of mind where you happen if we stopped thinking form of physical threat, emotional curriculum almost as a side-step to When teaching a class of trau- of ourselves as ageing and in de- danger (shame), and the absence the emotional connection. matised students, the caretak- are open to exploration. If you look at animal cline? And instead, started to of secure attachments to regulate This is not easy because it takes ing involved starts affecting research, exploratory behaviour is a measure think of ourselves as chronologi- autonomic arousal. a special sort of spirit and a cer- one as a person. What support cally advantaged? Perhaps some sort of a hybrid tain sort of person. These are in- structures are needed to ensure of the absence of anxiety and fear.” We need a concrete understanding model – education and counselling dividuals who are brave, almost appropriate self-care? of how are bodies and our brain age in the same context – might be a warrior-like; these are teachers It seems like the teachers whom and what we can do to work with possibility worth exploring. For who at times have to tolerate criti- I have studied have that support this natural process to make life as example, teaching for five to 10 cism from their colleagues but al- within their own families – they long and as fulfilling as possible. minutes, then taking a five-to-10- ways remain resolutely committed have their spouses, they have a there are many ways in which we to be vulnerable to drifting from This is what my book The Healthy minute break where students lower to their students. For many kids very supportive father or moth- are not. There is so much evidence their professional stance. A combi- Ageing Brain offers. their arousal through a biofeedback who are traumatized or marginal- er… And some of them, for want to support the concept that we are nation of activities works best – on- Research shows our brain ages activity, then go back to teaching ised in any way – who have brains of a better word, are just saints interwoven, that even when we are going supervision by trusted profes- and evolves overtime and that our again. And so on, back and forth. which are quite literally switched really. They are individuals who alone, our internal world has been sionals and a continual uncovering individual health and longevity are The great thing about this process off to learning – being that kind of somehow have been able to find constructed in relationships. And of inner emotional processes that inextricably linked to those around is that it teaches students to moni- teacher is essential. the strength within to be able to so, in a sense, our private selves are emerge in the role of therapist. us. How we age is grounded on tor and gauge their arousal states, do the job, and to do it well. Now, kind of like a private dinner from Specialists in trauma are espe- our human relationships. At the to find the sweet spot where learn- Do you think that one of the I acknowledge that we can’t have our childhood – other people see us cially vulnerable for three reasons. same time elderly people have a ing will take place. reasons this does not always an education system where we and can’t see anybody else, but we The first is that trauma therapists need to contribute to society and I think good teachers challenge happen is that teachers may hire people to teach based on their can see them. And so for me, my tend to have experienced trauma their brains need to be utilised to and excite students but don’t push not feel supported or well-re- ‘saintly’ capabilities. But I think grandmother is looming around in themselves, the second is that see- be healthy. Unfortunately ageing them too far and don’t scare them. sourced to do this? we can certainly use those prin- the kitchen; my grandfather is lift- ing clients with trauma is trau- is perceived as something undesir- They develop a kind of scaffolding Yes, partly I do. At least in the ciples to help guide and struc- ing up the jug of water and pour- matising in itself, and third is able and to be avoided at all costs. where they keep students brains United States, there doesn’t ture the system to give us a sense ing it; my mother and father are that clients with trauma are de- What we need is a new and more in the sweet spot of neuroplasti- seem to be sufficient emphasis of what teachers need to be suc- still doing their thing and running manding and needy which taps balanced story of ageing to guide city, which is in a moderate state on teacher education and self- cessful. In the United States, we around…and it’s all here, inside me into the therapist’s own issues us into the decades ahead. of arousal, sort of enthusiastic. An growth, on on-going develop- rank 26th in educational compe- – so that I am the accumulation of about shame.

40 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THE NEUROSCIENCE OF EDUCATION 41 HEALTH

BARBARA FERGUSON is a volunteer for HEAL Africa Hospital, an indigenous Christian, surgical and teaching hospital in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There she has been developing models for counselling rape-torture survivors, traumatised children, and families living with HIV. She shares her experiences with Refugee Transitions. HEAL AFRICA

It’s a three-day odyssey from Sydney to Goma, UN peacekeepers remain deployed in the area. which lies in the heart of the African continent – However, the value of their contribution is often the last leg of the journey is a four hour road trip questioned by local Congolese. through Rwanda. Moreover, on my last visit in August 2011, Goma lies on the Equator, 5,000 feet above sea UN troops were caught smuggling coltan – Congo’s level. It is on the shores of beautiful Lake Kivu and precious mineral resource – across the border in the shadow of the active volcano Nyiragongo. into Rwanda. National Geographic described Nyiragongo and Few reports on the suffering of the Congolese are Goma as: ‘the most dangerous volcano in the world published in our media, partly because Australia has in the most dangerous city in the world’. no diplomatic relations with the DRC and it is dif- In 2002, when Nyiragongo last erupted, a third of ficult and expensive to get into the country ($408 Goma was swallowed up by lava and the scars are for a visa for a month). still visible in the city streets. Wooden-plank hous- These days it seems rape is a given in war, and in es in the new suburbs perch precariously on rough Eastern DRC rape-torture has become a weapon of beds of lava rock, while riding in a vehicle on some war – it has been said that it is more dangerous to be of the lava-based roads feels like riding a mechanical a woman in this country than to be an armed soldier. bull. Few buildings in this city of a million people Rape-torture of women, including mutilation, is de- are as high as two stories. signed to demoralise whole communities. Women The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), are the ones who do the work that keeps the villages formerly Zaire – and before that the Belgian Congo viable: cultivating the fields, collecting water and fire – has had a troubled and tragic history. When the wood, making the home, raising the children, and genocidal conflict in Rwanda spilled over into the caring for the sick and aged. When women fear to eastern part of the DRC in 1994, nine nations be- go about these essential tasks, village life collapses. came involved, and as many as 20 armed groups im- The DRC conflict, which is over the control of posed a reign of terror. Close to six million people land, has displaced an additional million people died and hundreds of thousands of women were around Goma. Large tracts of fertile hills, which raped in what has been called the deadliest war since once were cultivated by the villagers, are now pas- World War II. tures for one man’s cattle. Large areas of forest, the All too often, civilians are still caught up in raids traditional home for the Pygmies, are now being Mother and child in Goma. when villages are burned and looted. And 20,000 cut down for charcoal production. Rich deposits of PHOTO: STEVE EVANS /2009 42 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 43 One third of Goma (pop. around 600,000) was covered in lava in the 2002 Mount Nyiragongo eruption; rebuilding continues. PHOTO: JOHN TULL

44 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 45 “Women are the ones who do the work that keeps the villages viable … When women fear to go about these essential tasks, village life collapses.”

gold, copper, and especially coltan, are being mined multiple trauma. by foreign companies. The head counsellor, for example, lost her entire The DRC is resource rich, but its weak and distant extended family when 700 families were massacred central government, burdened by repayments of for- in the Masisi region on one day in 1997. Also on eign debt, provides little in the way of public services that day, the chaplain, who works with me as an in- for the population in the east. Even in Goma city, terpreter, had gone to Masisi to rescue his younger water and power are regularly cut off, and roads are siblings. They escaped the slaughter with only min- notoriously bad, often more a series of potholes than utes to spare, running for their lives with the invad- a road. ing troops in pursuit. People have to pay to be admitted to the public When the volcano erupted in 2002, the chaplain hospital and to go to the public schools, while most and his family, like other members of the staff, lost people live on less than $2 a day and are lucky to eat everything but the clothes on their backs. The co- once a day. The DRC ranks in the lowest six nations ordinator of the hospital’s program for children liv- on the UN’s Index of Human Development. ing with HIV has suffered the murder of her father In this context, the HEAL Africa Hospital (HAH), and sister. In addition, while she was in labour with funded by international aid agencies, serves the her third child, her two older children, aged six and poorest members of the community. The hospital seven, were forced to watch for two hours while her has 160 beds, an outpatient department, and a far- husband was tortured to death. reaching network of community health and pallia- As I heard these and so many other stories, I mar- tive care programs. veled at the resilience of these people. I was amazed In 2009, I contacted the hospital outlining my that they managed to achieve anything in the chaos extensive international/cross-cultural experience in and unreliability of life in the region. mental health and offered to conduct counselling Subsequently, in every workshop I have devoted workshops for staff – specifically for those working time to discuss self-care and mutual support strat- with rape survivors. egies. For example, I introduced a form of gentle In the DRC, women and children are gang raped, dance exercise; encouraged their wonderful a cap- Women outside the HEAL Africa Hospital. PHOTO: BARBARA FERGUSON/ 2011 often with sticks or even the barrels of weapons. pella singing groups; and gave each woman a supply This can cause rupturing of the walls between the of scented hand lotion and taught them techniques vagina and/or the bowel and the bladder, so that for hand massage. Of course, I advocated they use they are left incontinent, and sometimes pregnant all of these activities with the patients, too. worse than those of thousands of other women. I was reminded of some Vietnamese boat people or HIV positive. Sharing of food is also an important aspect of any Consequently, they urged them to give thanks that I interviewed in the 1980s: they said that after they The hospital outreach staff go into villages and refu- training in Africa and I always provide substantial they were alive, to forgive the perpetrator and to get had survived a perilous sea voyage, rape, and rob- gee centres to locate these women and bring them refreshments at morning tea and a generous main on with their life. bery by Thai pirates, they felt that they had plumbed back for testing, treatment, and surgical repair of meal for lunch. Initially, I took issue with this method. However, the depths of their personal strengths and as a re- traumatic fistulas. Women are also given the oppor- In the first workshop, with 22 counsellors over six given the limited resources and time for counselling sult were confident that they could face anything life tunity to learn some skills, such as sewing, or to take days, my objective was to identify models of work so many survivors, I came to recognize the practical- threw at them. literacy classes, while they are undergoing treatment. already in use in the hospital by posing a case history ity of the approach. The second group of counsellors had had some In 2009, I met 80 women waiting for fistula surgery that was based on composite stories from real cas- Rape survivors often find themselves blamed, training in the model widely practised in the ‘mai- in transit wards – some needing multiple surgeries. es. I asked participants to discuss the case in small even rejected by their husbands and families, and sons d’ecoute’ – rape counselling centres, literally On my first visit, my main objectives were to de- groups, and then to role-play a first interview with shamed and isolated due to their physical disability. ‘listening houses’ – where women are encouraged to velop rapport with the staff and identify their priori- the patient. Participants fell into two groups. I was assured that women are helped by the realisa- share their stories. Undoubtedly, it is essential that ties. It soon became obvious that not only were staff The first group tended to be concerned primarily tion that they are not alone. Moreover, unlike other survivors are able to tell other people what has hap- subject to vicarious traumatisation in their work with a survivor’s spiritual life. In role-play I observed women who have suffered similarly, they are getting pened to them, to be believed, to have the enormi- with survivors of unimaginable atrocities, but most that they usually advised the player taking the role treatment and the opportunity to gain some practi- ty of the horror they have endured recognised and of them had themselves experienced severe and of the raped woman that her experiences were no cal skills for moving on in their lives. their need for justice acted upon.

46 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 HEAL AFRICA 47 “The model uses the tree and its component parts as a way for children to think about their lives: their roots, their strengths, their aspirations and the people who knew and had supported them in the past. The idea is that by identifying these positives, they are more likely to look at the difficulties they experience from a place of strength and safety and focus on the future rather than the past.”

In this case, what they need are strategies to keep vive and then build on these to recover. The model themselves safe, and groups of survivors can help was very positively evaluated by the 11 members of each other by sharing information of this nature. the counselling staff who attended the workshop. It may also be that due to the overwhelming emo- Unfortunately, it is difficult to know the extent to tions and confusion at the time of the attack that which they are implementing it in their work, or are some women have confused memories of what actu- training others to use it. ally took place. And hearing what happened to oth- A second series of workshops was given on my visit er women can even create false memories of their in 2010, which I called “Protect the Little Children”, own experience. in which 26 staff members, who work with children Whether or not this is true, in subsequent work- in the hospital’s community health programs and shops, in 2010, I suggested a model of work that programs for families living with HIV, participated. moved on from re-telling the traumas, and I asked In 2009, I had learnt that while children suffer counsellors to assess its usefulness in their work. sexual assault and incest, as well as war-trauma, their This model, a Brief Intervention for Trauma needs were often overlooked. I introduced the usual Symptoms (BITS), was developed by Dr Steve experiential exercises to enhance communication Stathis, a psychiatrist based in Brisbane. Briefly, skills and elicit the types of issues the participants it suggests four aspects of treatment. were facing in their work. The first one is to provide information about the I also gave mini-lectures on child development, ex- complex consequences of trauma which will help plored the nature of traumatic events, and of the life- the person understand that their reactions are nor- changing impact of such events on a child’s physical Children stand near a camp overlooking Lake Kivu in Kibati, 5km north of Goma. There are over a million displaced people in the war-torn province of North Kivu. PHOTO: LIONEL HEALING / AFP/ 2009 mal given what they have experienced – this is a health, their ability to learn, to handle their emotions form of psycho-education. and form relationships throughout life. This material A second is to allow a person to express what has was new to the participants and highly valued. The happened to them and, most importantly, identi- issues raised prompted me to plan a special “train the As far as justice is concerned, there have been some A sociologist, who had interviewed rape victims fy specific symptoms that are affecting their daily trainers” workshop for my visit in 2011. advances since my first visit in 2009. At that time ten and 15 years ago told me in a personal report that functioning – a brief trauma narrative. Of course, For this workshop I chose four staff members the culture of impunity for the rapists meant that she found they had remained as distraught as if the this is also essential for the counsellor’s understand- from different programs at the hospital – a program even when a woman knew she had a right to com- attack had just happened. Another person suggested ing of the person’s needs. coordinator, a nurse-psychologist, a counsellor, and plain to police – which was rare – and even when that some of the more highly publicised stories be- The third aspect of the model involves cognitive a chaplain – to explore the Tree of Life model for a man or group of men were apprehended, all too came more and more horrific with every re-telling. restructuring to help the person move from self- severely traumatised children. I knew them all well often the evidence or the perpetrators disappeared The most recent literature in the field also sug- blame and shame to be able to place the blame on from previous workshops and had seen their com- before a sentence could be imposed. gests that repeated rehearsing of the traumatic event the perpetrator. I was able to link this with the hos- mitment and capacity in action. Additional resources have now been provided, serves to reinforce the distressing memories, stimu- pital’s Women Stand-Up Together program. It in- The model uses the tree and its component parts more police given training in taking evidence, and lates harmful stress hormones and plunges the per- volves a number of centres throughout the province, as a way for children to think about their lives: mobile courts travel to the scene of the attacks fa- son back into the state of terror and helplessness ex- where women gather for training about their rights their roots, their strengths, their aspirations and cilitating convictions. perienced at the time of the attack. and also to learn skills in sewing, small-animal hus- the people who knew and had supported them in As far as strategies to help survivors, however, I In some cases this made the women more vulner- bandry and agriculture. the past. had some doubt that the simple repetition of trauma able to further attacks – especially since many wom- The fourth aspect consists of symptom manage- The idea is that by identifying these positives, stories was a sufficient means to promote recovery en have no alternative but to return to the situation ment where the person is assisted to identify the they are more likely to look at the difficulties they for the women. where they were raped. personal strengths that have allowed them to sur- experience from a place of strength and safety and

48 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 HEAL AFRICA 49 focus on the future rather than the past. Eastern Congo: Rape-torture of women, I sent the material explaining the model ahead so including mutilation, is that participants were familiar with the content. On designed to demoralise the first day of the workshop we reviewed the mate- whole communities. rial on child development from last year’s workshop. Women work to keep villages viable: cultivating Then, in preparation for the following day when we the fields, collecting water would trial the model with a group of children, we and fire wood, making the went through the process of drawing our own tree of home, raising the children, life, and explaining it to one another. and caring for the sick and aged. When women fear This proved to be an emotional session as the par- to go about these ticipants had all experienced more trauma in their essential tasks, village lives than the average Australian could imagine. life collapses. However, sharing their experiences and their coping PHOTO: WALTER ASTRADA strategies resulted in a strengthening of their rela- tionships with one another. The following day, nine children arrived to take part in the trial of the model led by the HAH staff. The children all know me quite well from pre- vious visits so were not distracted by my presence as an observer. Three of the children were from families living with HIV, one was an orphan living with a sick grandmother, one was fatherless and the other was often quite sick as a result of her disease. Two of the children are children of HAH staff and four are orphans from the Pygmy (displaced forest dwellers) village that I have been establishing outside Goma. The venue for the workshop was the guest house where I stay in Goma and most of the activities with the children were out on the lawn under a pergola. The many trees in the garden provided inspiration for the tree theme and the children entered into the activities with enthusiasm. They were also eager to explain their drawings. An orphaned Pygmy boy, who had become se- lectively mute since his parents were murdered last lated to the theme. Everyone joined in for interpre- a dead parent and to have something tangible to dren to share strategies for feeling safe and dealing year, filled his page with a sturdy palm tree, clearly tive dance portraying the trees growing from tiny remember them by. These families have few pos- with their fears. Some of the older children had identified several people as supporters and happily seedlings to mature trees standing strong in the rain sessions and no photographs to share. One of the already talked about key people who helped them, told us his goal was to become a pilot. and storms. After this activity children were asked Pygmy orphans talked about what it was like “living and who were a resource for all of the children: An orphaned Pygmy girl drew a tiny, bent tree in if children, like trees, also experience difficulties and life like a nomad”, never knowing a safe haven until they mentioned teachers, the hope created by the the corner of her page. This child walks with a limp dangers. They were soon talking about the losses in the past few months since the new village had been opportunity to go to school, the medicines provid- after nearly losing her left foot to a long-neglected their lives, although they were not pressed to talk built for her people. ed by HEAL Africa Hospital, pastors who helped infection earlier in the year. Clearly, her tree repre- about their own experiences. Not every child spoke in this session and atten- destitute families and the comfort found in prayer sented her sense of her own disability and insignifi- One child told how his father was murdered on tion was riveted on those who did. One parent later and faith in God. cance. She had only one “support” leaf on her tree the day he was born. He said, “I am told he was a reported a conversation with their child indicating It is a privilege to work with the staff at the – which had my name written on it. handsome man and I look like him – but I really that he had been surprised to learn that other chil- HEAL Africa Hospital and to contribute in some The children ranged in age from six to 15 years so want to see my father”. dren felt just as he did about the loss of their father. small way to their task of alleviating the suffering we needed to allow for physical activities that re- Several other children echoed the longing to know In the model, the final session allows the chil- among this traumatised population.

50 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 HEAL AFRICA 51 Reality TV Stirs Emotions on Refugees

Broadcast on SBS during Refugee Week in June, “Go Back To Where You Came From” was a confronting and controversial series, that followed six Australians on a reverse refugee journey. Part documentary, part reality TV, the series put the plight of refugees on the agenda of mainstream Australia and sparked debate across the country. RICHARD WALKER spoke to series director IVAN O’MAHONEY.

52 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 PHOTO: COURTESY OF SBS 53 AGENDA

INTERVIEW

RW: Something like this, as from a televisual point of view, far as I’m aware, has never been the fact that some of them had done before. Where did the idea a change-of-heart worked a treat come from and how did it start? because it makes for a better story IO: It is kind of hard to pinpoint if there is development in some- the exact beginning because, like body’s character. so many projects in television But truthfully, if all of them had there is an idea somewhere that held on to their beliefs, despite somebody has, and in this case seeing all this stuff in real life, that that idea was with Peter Newman, would probably have made a very the commissioning editor at SBS, interesting story as well! So no, we who wanted to find a new way of didn’t really have an agenda, and telling the refugee story, and the the fact that it wasn’t an agenda- story of asylum seekers as well. driven program added to its cred- And I think he was right in want- ibility and made it watchable for ing a new way because the old people on both sides of the de- way, the tried and tested way of bate. And I think the fact that not doing either a presenter-led cur- everybody changed their opinions rent affairs program or a beauti- also added to that. fully shot observational film, is not really getting the audience RW: What about the partici- that this issue deserves. So then pants, particularly the Australian you start looking at other ways of participants, what was the pro- telling the story. cess for finding them? IO: We wanted a diverse group. RW: Was there an intended re- Obviously we wanted a fair few sult starting out? Did you know of them to have critical opinions what to expect or what you when it came to asylum seekers wanted to achieve? and refugees, because that would IO: A lot of people have suggested make an interesting program, but that because it’s an SBS program we knew we needed at least one that we intended to change peo- person who was already very sym- ple’s minds. Because that is what’s pathetic towards asylum seekers, expected of the multicultural and that person would then help broadcaster – that it is left leaning, stir debate within the group. bleeding heart, so to speak. We Within the group of people who came at it with a slightly different were not so sympathetic we also attitude. We wanted to explore wanted a wide range of opinions whether or not people’s opinions there, because there are a wide would actually change when you range of opinions in society as well. put them in that position. So we looked at pressure groups on Now obviously if you look at it the internet, we went to town hall PHOTO: COURTESY OF SBS

54 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 REALITY TV STIRS EMOTIONS ON REFUGEES 55 meetings where people were rail- RW: I was quite surprised, in from the camera, which for me “...the social ing against the building of deten- some circumstances, by the was very revealing. tion centres, we spoke to the youth behaviour of the participants. Then there was Gleny, who ex- experiment that wing of political parties. We also A couple of examples that pectedly was very upset, but what just stood in shopping centres in come to mind are during the I thought was also quite interest- we’d set up at the areas where there had been a large Malaysian raid some partici- ing with her is that she got quite beginning of the influx of refugees in the last few pants seemed to almost enjoy it angry with us the next day, that we years – Blacktown for instance. and even assist the authorities, had put her through this experi- film was really And, we found Adam because and others seemed quite horri- ence and then asked her to imme- working, it was we thought that having someone fied. And also in Kakuma there diately reflect on it. She was very from Cronulla, a lifeguard, giv- were quite differing reactions. moved by it, but not very happy having an effect. en the history of the riots there, IO: Yes, I thought that the with what we’d done. might bring an interesting per- Malaysian raid, from a psycho- And then there was Rae and It really hit spective. And it did, in fact he logical point of view, was incred- Adam, who I think were both them hard.” turned out to be one of the most ibly interesting. It was almost as if on a very similar emotional path interesting people in the group. they had no place to hide anymore throughout the series, who were On the one hand we cast the net in terms of where they stood. They both horrified. Even though PHOTO: COURTESY OF SBS really wide, but on the other we were in such an extreme situation Adam had an initial almost pup- really knew the type of people that and it was always bound to bring py-like reaction to the excitement, we wanted. out some sort of profound reac- but then realised that what was conclusive answer presupposes the opposite side of the spectrum. But I think it was not only the pro- tion. In Darren’s case, he identi- going on was pretty full on. that ultimately we’ll all think the But what about that huge grey gram but the rise of social media RW: Once they were in these fied with the people in uniform. same when confronted with the area where most Australians live? as well. Twitter played a massive situations, they really went on an Later on, during “The Response”, RW: You said earlier that part same challenges or experiences, What about them? role; it was extraordinary. We had emotional rollercoaster, which he said it was because his military of the goal of the series was and we don’t. I think what I’m most proud a Twitter fall projected on the wall was very interesting to watch. training kicked in and he had that to explore people’s reactions So there was never going to be of is that for a period of time at on the night of the first episode Were you surprised by how the automatic reaction to the uniform. when placed on a journey like an answer to that question, but least we seem to have wrestled and it showed all the tweets that experience took them to places this. That process raised a lot of there was always the possibility that debate from policy makers, were coming in that related to the that they weren’t expecting, or He said he became “task questions, and one of the ones of at least making sure that peo- op-ed. writers, and advocates, to program, and it was thousands and that you weren’t expecting? oriented” that recurred throughout the ple would have a better informed the public, and I think that was thousands, and people were tell- IO: Yes, I was somewhat sur- IO: Well, that is one way of ex- series was “Would you get on a opinion and were able to partici- really valuable. ing each other to watch the pro- prised, and I think my surprise plaining it. Raquel thought “this boat?”. Some people obviously pate in the debate in a more in- gram, and it was a really interactive came from the fact that I have is fantastic, this is amazing, this changed their opinion on this – formed way. RW: I agree, and I think that way of experiencing the program. been doing these kinds of sto- is what they should be doing in Adam was a particular example I think that one of the big prob- one of the great strengths of People were saying things like ries for the last 10 years and you Australia”. I am not quite sure that – whilst others, no matter what lems is that this debate, which is the program was that it seemed “Hey Roderick, you have got 20 grow a bit of a thick skin. So you she understood the complexities they saw, couldn’t change their on the front page all the time, gets to have this tremendous reach, minutes to form an opinion”, al- sometimes forget that, for people of what was going on, but that was views. Do you think the series played out through the eyes of which most current affairs pro- most as if they are talking to them! whose job is not to go into conflict also quite revealing. And of course helped to resolve that question politicians and advocates on both grams don’t usually have. It And I think that that just started to zones, it is actually terrifying, it’s later on she had quite a big u-turn. in any way? sides, but hardly ever through seemed to create huge debate create quite a buzz. unsettling, it’s emotional. Roderick virtually disappeared IO: No. I don’t think the series the eyes of normal, ordinary in mainstream Australia. I was surprised by just how much from the scene. If you think about provided any clear-cut answers on Australians – people who don’t IO: What we tried to do was draw RW: I read that on the first impact it made. But of course that Malaysian scene he is hardly any issues. I think what it helped have a direct vested interest in the an audience that wouldn’t normally night it was the highest trend- when it happened it was thrilling in it, and he literally just disap- do was it helped people form an outcome of the debate. tune in to SBS. We really wanted ing Twitter topic worldwide. at the same time, because the so- peared. We did not know where opinion, and it is a better-informed And therefore what you are hear- to get the people who, you know, IO: Worldwide, that is right. And cial experiment that we’d set up at he was for a lot of the time. And opinion now. I think the fact that ing and seeing is always incred- watch FOX 8 and watch channels it just meant that tens of thou- the beginning of the film was re- I think that’s because it was per- these two guys had radically dif- ibly coloured. It’s either a right- 9 and 7 and 10, because their opin- sands of people were tweeting at ally working, it was having an ef- haps quite hard for him to marry ferent opinions on that particular wing person who basically says we ion is no less valid than the regular the same time about this particu- fect. It really hit them hard. his opinions with what he was subject shows that you can’t come need to stop the boats and shut SBS crowd, and they’re the people lar topic. It does not mean that experiencing. So he stayed away to a conclusive answer, because a the borders, or it’s someone on that we should be talking to. around the world people were

56 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 REALITY TV STIRS EMOTIONS ON REFUGEES 57 watching it, but it does mean that, gram, and also after the pro- street and the corruption and the that we were not upfront with the They were people who would have worries about. But he is now vol- numerically, the most people were gram, was the distinction be- bribing and all this kind of stuff. participants about the fact that identified with Raquel, and who unteering in the Chin community talking about this particular topic tween the “real” refugees, which I think the other thing that certain they were not on a sinking boat went on the same emotional jour- in Adelaide. But other than that I on Twitter at that time. in this case usually referred to people have a hard time with is and stuff. ney with Raquel, when she said think people are still pretty much Africans who’d come via the this idea, and this is Darren’s main But then I thought, the first thing “I’m not anymore, I get it. It does where they were.The other thing RW: Were you surprised by the UNHCR, versus the “boat thing, that if you are already physi- that we said in the program, in the not matter what colour your skin is”. that I hope that the series has done, sometimes negative and quite people”. Obviously this is the cally safe outside your country first three minutes, was that this is There were a lot of people like and I have some reason to believe vicious responses on Twitter to- same question we are often de- of origin then you should not be a social experiment and you’ll be that. I got phone calls from friends that it might have, is that it’s taken wards some of the participants? bating in society. I was interest- coming to Australia because you’re taken on a journey and you will who work in corporate Australia some of the sting out of the debate, IO: Maybe not surprised. It is ed to hear your thoughts, and not fleeing persecution anymore. see things that will make you un- who said that in their department, some of the vitriol towards the asy- kind of strange, as much as I disa- the participant’s thoughts, on Now the UNHCR’s take on that, comfortable. That it was a “set-up” people from their team had start- lum seekers themselves, by show- greed at times with things that our that distinction. of course, is that whether you are a situation, a situation that we had ed to volunteer in the Migrant ing the human side of the debate. participants would say, I became IO: It is a difficult one because I refugee or not does not depend on quite protective of them because think that if you look at it in legal where you are but on what the sit- RW: Lastly, something that in the back of my mind was al- terms then of course there is no uation in your country of origin is. “... was interesting to me was that ways this notion that whether or distinction, because by the time I think some people who will “...on talk-back radio, [...] there were just at the end of the show, not you agree with them they’re that they’re processed their claims watch this will understand that people calling in to shock-jock shows on Dr Dave Corlett said “an ap- very brave to voice those opinions have been assessed and they have people who get on boats can very preciation of the complex- in such a public manner and really been found to be refugees, real well be genuine refugees and have and literally saying ‘I used to be a racist, ity of the refugee issue is often make themselves quite vulnerable refugees just as real as the peo- a reason for not accessing the missing from public debate”. and open to criticism, and really ple who are coming from Africa UNHCR system that could ul- but actually I get it now.’ ” To me, that summed up exact- just lay it out and I ended up hav- through UNHCR. timately bring them to Australia. ly what you achieved with the ing a great deal more respect for So what seems to upset a certain The distinction is not that black documentary. You didn’t nec- our participants than I did for all segment of the public is this no- and white, and understanding that created for them, we were com- Resource Centre. essarily provide a clear answer those people who, in the anonym- tion that by coming on a boat you the area is grey is very important. pletely upfront about that. These guys in three-piece suits all to every question, but there ity of Twitter, were spewing all are bypassing the system, you’re So I did not quite understand some of a sudden realised that there are was much more understand- this bile and saying really outra- somehow making sure that where RW: Soon after the series of what he was saying. It felt it little people out there who really need ing of what the issues were. geous stuff at times. millions of other people will have was broadcast, Paul Sheehan bit like it would be cool to criticise help and that we can contribute to Would you agree that that was to wait 10 or 15 years in a camp, wrote an article in the Sydney it when everybody else was raving them building a new life by just do- the case? RW: Do you think it’s a case of you’re actually making it happen Morning Herald saying that about it. But it didn’t bother me, ing a little bit. There are other ex- IO: Yes, I don’t think it provid- people being quite hypocriti- within a year or six months. the show was “strictly for the and in a way I’d almost be more amples of people who told us that ed clear-cut answers to clear-cut cal and preaching tolerance yet I think it very much goes to this gullible”. How do you respond upset if nobody criticised it! either they, or their colleagues, had questions, but I do think that it’s practising intolerance towards notion of “fair play”, that some- to that? started to do volunteer work after made people appreciate that it is the views of other people? how it is not fair play, without IO: We had a chat amongst our- RW: Do you think, now that watching the show, and I thought a complex issue, there are many IO: Having done this stuff now people then thinking of course, selves here on whether or not we the show has finished, that it that was quite extraordinary. facets to it, and that understand- for 10 years or so, I have really well what would be the alterna- needed to respond to the article, has contributed in any way to ing that something is complex is come to appreciate that the left tive? Which is what we tried to and eventually decided that his tangible change, either posi- RW: And, what about the par- a very good way to start taking can be as intolerant and vitriol- explore, and I would have liked response was just part of the de- tive or negative, in the area of ticipants? Several months on, off the sharp edges, because once ic as the right and that when we to have been able to do that in bate that followed the broadcast refugees? do you know where they stand you understand that things are not preach tolerance we should exam- greater detail. Because what are so there was really no need to re- IO: Yes, I think it certainly has. If now? black and white it also means that ine what that means in the way we your options? spond to it ‘one-on-one’. you look at the responses, for in- IO: I think they’re pretty much you might think twice about what voice our own opinions. I actually I think Malaysia was at least a If I am not mistaken I think there stance on talk-back radio which is where they were in the immedi- you say publicly, and I think that’s thought that the response to the good example of that. If you stay might have been one or two fac- always a reasonably good way of ate aftermath of the film. Darren, where informed opinions start. program cast the “do-gooders” in in Malaysia then this is what you tual inaccuracies in it, and I also measuring the nation’s pulse, there I think, was a bit shaken by the And if we can debate with in- quite a bad light. are opening yourself to. And what think he did not watch the entire were people calling in to shock- response to him and I think he is formed opinions rather than just we showed was only a tiny part, show. I think that, from memory, jock shows and literally saying really wanting to make it clear in regurgitating what other people RW: The other question that you know, we didn’t show the can- he wrote that we put people on “I used to be a racist, but actually blogging on the web that he’s not tell us to think, then we’re head- came up quite a lot in the pro- ing, the random arrests on the an “enforced empathy march” and I get it now”. anti-refugee, it’s the process that he ing in the right direction.

58 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 REALITY TV STIRS EMOTIONS ON REFUGEES 59 War, violence and insecurity have led to a devastating increase in mental illness in Sierra Leone. And, in a country of six million people there is only one psychiatrist, Dr Edward Nahim. Dr Nahim visited Australia and spoke at a STARTTS clinical evening. OLGA YOLDI reports.

Sierra Leone: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mind

60 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 61

PHOTO: ROBIN HAMMOND HEALTH

our hundred thousand from PTSD ... The trouble is politicians are ignoring people with a men- the current problems,” Dr Nahim said. tal illness count on Dr According to the World Health Organisation Nahim. As head of the (WHO) the number of people who are reported as Sierra Leone Psychiatric suffering from mental health issues in Sierra Leone Hospital in Freetown, he will soon be approaching 500,000. Like in many treats mental-health pa- other African countries, the mental health system tients with problems of faces many challenges. Patients face stigma, dis- drug abuse, epilepsy, and mental disorders, such as crimination, lack of qualified personnel, insufficient psychosis, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder infrastructure and poor funding. (PTSD)f and schizophrenia. But time and resources Another challenge is feeding the patients. only allow him to treat 10 per cent of patients the The government normally provides three meals a remaining 90 per cent rely on traditional healers. day at no charge to the patient and this is supple- An affable man in his sixties, with a sense of hu- mented by food provided by family members. Most mour, Dr Nahim told an audience of health work- patients do have families that can take care of them ers about his experience practising psychiatry in an but some don’t. African context. Those who are alone or abandoned must rely on He studied medicine in Russia and then special- the charity of staff members to survive. Dr Nahim ised in England. “Initially I wanted to specialise in said he also donated some of his own money to cov- internal medicine, but I was told I should specialise er the costs of basic food for some of his patients. in psychiatry because at the time there were no psy- “Those who are abandoned we take care of them.” chiatrists in the entire country. I said, Okay, I will Patients are kept in the hospital for only three take on the challenge.” months for treatment and then released into the Thirty-seven years later the situation hasn’t community. Dr Nahim said he didn’t want his pa- changed. Psychiatry is still not popular in Africa. tients institutionalised. “The salary is the lowest in the medical profession,” According to him, traditional methods of men- Dr Nahim said. “The patients are very poor and by tal-health care are a solution for most patients. He the time they have been to the traditional healer said there was a widespread belief among Sierra they have nothing left in their pockets.” Leoneans that mental-health problems were caused The hospital looks after 100 patients. Dr Nahim by witchcraft, evil spirits, curses, or bad people with- said that displacement, unemployment and drug in the family. abuse were major problems. “Although the war is Others believed it was a curse from God. “The juju over, the addictions remain.” man will say: ‘the evil is within you, kill a goat, and Not only the addictions, but also the nightmares then the evil spirit will be transferred to the goat’. and the trauma of the atrocities committed during They perform a ceremony and the patient feels psy- the 11-year civil war (1991-2002), one of the blood- chologically protected,” Dr Nahim said. iest conflicts in recent African history, which left Such beliefs in witchcraft are aspects of practice more than 50,000 dead, two million displaced, and that takes us beyond the familiar views of west- thousands of amputees. The rebel militia known as ern psychiatry. According to Dr Nahim, the roles the Revolutionary United Front, backed by Liberian of spirits, ancestors and exorcism are an important leader Charles Taylor, cut off the hands of thousands part of the construct of illness and the appearance of of people to prevent them from working and voting. symptoms so they must also be part of the cure. “The war truly destabilised the nation. Many people In the majority of cases, the mental-health system lost everything. It was so barbaric that it traumatised is the last resort after traditional healing options 90 per cent of the population, who are now suffering have been exhausted. “There is no way you can tell Lizard and shadows at Kissy Mental Hospital, the only psychiatric hospital in Sierra Leone. PHOTO: JUDITH KAINE 62 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 63 “The juju man will say: ‘the evil is within you, kill a goat, and then the evil spirit will be transferred to the goat’. They perform a ceremony and the patient feels psychologically protected.”

patients: ‘don’t go to the traditional healer.’ They will a professor of history from the University of Harvard, always go there first. We have no choice but to work several African countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, with them and they work with us,” he said, “We Senegal and Ghana, have had a strong psychiatrist don’t create problems for them.” tradition beginning in the 1950s. But progress in

Dr Nahim is positive about the cooperation be- this area was halted in the 1980s and 1990s, a pe- Vocational training at Kissy Mental Hospital. PHOTO: JUDITH KAINE tween traditional and conventional health-workers. riod of wars, political instability, and economic de- “Traditional healers already exist alongside biomed- cline. “Unfortunately the dismantling of institutions ical treatment. They give strong herbs that are also that supported psychiatric services and research oc- used to manufacture western medicines,” he said. “I curred at a time when the need was greatest,” he said. guess the only difference is that we prescribe man- “The problem is that at the moment, when we most been brought to our attention that mental health in- tal-health policies, programs, or action plans. ufactured medication while they provide natural need detailed studies of PTSD, these countries lack herently affects physical health and physical health Research has also shown that poverty can cause medication and patients seem to get better.” the means of providing data.” affects mental health. The two are inseparable in mental illness. Dr Crick Lund, professor and re- A common side-effect caused by pharmaceutical According to WHO, less than two per cent of na- terms of achieving a more complete state of well- searcher at the Department of Psychiatry and medication is obesity. Patients may develop diabetes. tional budgets are allocated to mental health. Most ness,” he said. Mental Health at the University of Cape Town, In an African patient, he said it was a very serious developing countries also have to deal with a high According to WHO a number of factors are caus- told Think Africa Press that poverty and mental problem because the food they mostly ate was carbo- prevalence of communicable diseases, infant mor- ing mental health to decline in Africa such as wide- health are completely intertwined; “people living in hydrates. Diabetes could cause death or other health tality, malnutrition, low life-expectancy, morbidity, spread violence, poverty, population explosion, drug poverty are more vulnerable to mental illness, while complications that European patients might manage disablement and poor health services. addiction and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Currently those with pre-existing mental illnesses are more just by going on a diet, and they have access to drugs In 1988 and 1990, the member states in the more than 20 conflicts are raging in different parts of likely to become more trapped in poverty due to de- to treat diabetes, but African patients don’t. African region of WHO adopted two resolutions to the continent (some are low intensity, others could creased capacity in everyday functions”. Dr Nahim said that mental illness was an inter- improve mental-health policies, programs and ac- be described as all-out war) causing massive trau- While the strength of the community in which an esting topic because of its intrinsic connection with tion plans. But despite some modest achievements matisation of the population -- and are also likely to individual lives is important, Dr Nahim said that the culture. He said culture shaped the profession of the situation was found to be unsatisfactory. impact on future generations. situation would not change until there was improve- psychiatry and even defined the meaning of mad- WHO published a Global Burden of Disease There are already nine million refugees and inter- ment in socio-economic wellbeing. He believes un- ness. This is a concept he found difficult to convey Analysis in 2008 that said that 14 per cent of the nally displaced people living in precarious condi- employment, high population growth, and drug ad- to the English psychiatrists he worked with at a global burden of disease is attributed to mental ill- tions. “If this scale of destruction and fighting was diction are the most pressing concerns. London hospital. ”No matter how educated a pa- ness and that proportion is projected to rise in many in Europe, then it would be called World War III,” He said there were large quantities of heroine coming tient is,” I would say to them, “He will always believe African countries. wrote Anup Shah in Global Issues, “But in Africa into the country from Latin America and addiction in spirits.” With other more immediate physical health is- there is no media attention.” was widespread and out of control. “About 80 per cent Sierra Leone is not alone in having to manage with sues, mental health often comes last in the list of Yet, there also appears to be a lack of public aware- of admissions are drug-induced psychotic disorders.” limited psychiatric services. According to WHO, priorities for governments. But as Dr Alan Alwan, ness about the consequences of both mass trauma and “Without economic development we will always Ethiopia has only 10 psychiatrists for a population of a researcher working for WHO, said, there was no its impact on the public health of countries, even at be trapped in the shadows. Sierra Leone needs help 61 million. According to Dr Emmanuel Akyeampong, health without mental health. “In recent years it has official levels. Most African countries have no men- and it needs it now rather than later.”

64 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 SIERRA LEONE: TRAPPED IN THE SHADOWS OF THE MIND 65 AGENDA

STARTTS’ program of Capoeira Angola provides training in many areas that are important for young refugees. This an- cient art form is a mix of dance and martial arts, with a rich cultural heritage stretching back more than 400 years to the brutal enslavement of Africans in Brazil. Recently, three par- ticipants in the program from Cabramatta High School trav- elled to New Zealand for an international event. RICHARD WALKER spoke to Capoeira Project Officers at STARTTS, MESTRE ROXINHO and CHIARA RIDOLFI, and Cabramatta High School Student Counsellor, ELIZABETH PICKERING about the benefits of the program.

How do you feel about the How did it start here at Cabra- Capoeira program at Cabram- matta High? atta Intensive English Centre? EP: STARTTS approached us EP: It has been amazing to see about running a group. I have the growth in the kids and the worked in this high school for 21 way the program has developed. years and I have had a lot of in- We started off four years ago volvement with STARTTS so with a diverse group of kids from I was really keen to see kids of African backgrounds. They had African backgrounds getting a pro- had really traumatic lives and gram with some therapeutic ben- had been in refugee camps for efits. I think the traditional ways a long time so they weren’t very of Western counselling – sitting well socialised. Over the years I down and talking – is not the way have seen a dramatic change in to really get the long-term changes. CAPOEIRA – the way they relate to each other. Capoeira’s roots are in Africa. It They are now much more con- was the way people, who were nected and helpful. At the begin- taken from African countries to ning I would be tearing my hair Brazil, kept their cultural herit- COUNSELLING out because it was really difficult age and practice going, and it was to get them to co-operate and the way they found support and respect others. There was poten- friendship with each other. I think tial for their skills to be good but the concept really appealed to me. they were not focused. IN MOTION I think just sticking with the kids, What do you think it is about listening, supporting, mentor- the medium of Capoeira that ing and teaching them was good. brings about that change? They have had a remarkable EP: It is a really complex set transformation. The skills they of factors. For these kids it is have learnt have really blossomed. the physicality of it, the way you

66PHOTO: SYMPLEREFUGEE CREATIVE TRANSITIONS /2012 • ISSUE 26 67 participate and belong to a group. We have done other activities It is a sense of identity. It is the with young people. We have had connection, a really powerful way two camps over the last two years to develop trust. that have been good at provid- When you’re swinging your legs ing other opportunities to social- over someone else’s head and ise and enjoy the connection we they’re swinging their legs over have made as a group. I think that your head you need to have a cer- has helped as well. I think train- tain amount of trust that they are ers’ competence and their ability not going to kick you in the head! to relate to young people have also So Capoeira is built on trust and made it successful. co-operation, respect for each other and respect for yourself. So I think Obviously those kinds of skills those sorts of things have been re- that they’re showing in the class ally good in promoting those val- have been transferred to their ues and concepts with the kids. lives outside of class as well. EP: That’s right, yes. And, in How do you think the program fact, we’ve been doing a bit of has grown and changed in the monitoring of the indicators last couple of years? of engagement at school. All MR: The program has evolved and the Capoeira kids were often in now focuses on two aspects, self- trouble at school. They had de- esteem and confidence, which are tentions. Some were suspended. a priority for kids who have sur- Their attendance would often be vived trauma and settled in the poor. But no one has been sus- Australian environment, but it also pended this year and attendance gives opportunities for leadership. is better than it has ever been. It has been amazing the connec- And their leadership skills are tions that we have made with the just blossoming in other areas. kids and their families. The moth- We have now got five students ers know I look after them. They who have been to Capoeira that know us. This is a big change. are on the Students Representative Council (SRC). This is the first It seems like there is a real his- time that we’ve had any kid of torical lineage to it, that has African background on the SRC continued in the program and and we have also got Capoeira is happening now – it’s quite kids being peer leaders. remarkable in many ways. So they are giving back. It has EP: Yes it is. I think it has been never been like that before. I think the best program ever for refugee that the turnabout is wonderful. students because it has been long- That is exactly what we want. In term and conducted by someone any healing process, if the peo- who has the cultural background ple who have been given the help and the connections to be able to become the helpers, it shows that identify with the kids and teach they have been able to move on. things in a way that fits with their Every day that I am here I see cultural practice. That has made it lovely responses from the kids in PHOTO: SYMPLE CREATIVE /2012 very effective. terms of the bonds that we have

68 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 CAPOEIRA – COUNSELLING IN MOTION 69 “They were part of a cultural context where all this knowledge was passed through non-verbal activities – certainly in Africa…”

We don’t look at it in other ways. What happened at the confer- edged”, and it has improved their Those students we assist need to ence and why was it important? responsibility and commitment connect with their culture be- MR: It was important because it in a very powerful way. cause it nurtures them. Capoeira was the first time those kids had CR: After they came back the way is an Afro-Brazilian art form so it gone out of Australia and seen they behaved with the other kids is connected to their culture and something different. It was great also changed – they were encour- it makes them proud to do it. because there was no structure aging others to make the move- Also, students develop skills that that said you have to do this, or ments, they were leading – their are recognised by people. They that. They just had to adjust to be self-confidence had improved.

PHOTO: SYMPLE CREATIVE /2012 could even make a living from inside the marae (Maori commu- In New Zealand they were the it in the future. And instead nal or sacred place). youngest in the group. It was a of me or Chiara going to their They discovered how big Capoeira large group with lots of differ- community to teach it, they could is worldwide. So I guess it opened ent people coming from different teach it to their own people. their minds. They had to commu- life experiences. So they gained a nicate with others and see how better understanding of what it So it’s also like community de- they were playing Capoeira and means to be part of a larger com- velopment because it’s empow- how they were growing in the munity other than the class in ering them to empower their program. They learned a lot of Cabramatta High School. own communities. skills and saw that people were They travelled and were welcome CR: And to learn how to be with committed to it and realised they as part of this community and be- other communities as well. For could be committed as well. longed to a master who was rec- developed and their willingness to based around dance and martial the culture, the history and for example, some students are as- And, afterwards I could see the ognised at an international level. talk about things that would never arts, and yet it seems to have all these kids it resonates. They were sisting us on the program right students were more focussed, more They gained a different view and have been talked about before. It these other benefits for people part of a cultural context where now. They are Sudanese. We don’t disciplined, and more responsible more self-confidence to work. has a long-term effect, which pays who do it. So what are the ben- all this knowledge was passed just get them to come and run the in the program. It helped them in off, and I guess for everyone, be- efits that you’ve seen in the kids through non-verbal activities – program in the Sudanese com- so many ways. What does the future hold for ing there for the long haul makes over the years, and what is it certainly in Africa but as well in munity but also in the Iraqi These students are now becoming Capoeira at STARTTS? a difference. about Capoeira that allows that other places – so it resonates be- community. teachers of Capoeira to the other CR: In two or four years’ time, or to happen? cause Capoeira is a continuation That is important because al- kids. In New Zealand when the whatever time it takes for us to CR: I’ve only ever seen Capoeira I think Capoeira is one tool, of those contexts. It has been tak- though they need to run this pro- trainers were not able to attend, prepare them, I would like to em- from a distance, and I don’t and what is good is that you can en from a different cultural con- gram with their own people, they these kids taught the Capoeira ploy some of the kids that just think I fully understand how do it from a physical point of view, text but it still carries the same have the right and the power to class themselves in a really profes- started performing now to run it works. or you can put Capoeira Angola way of giving knowledge, and do so with other communities as sional way and their peers respect- this program in the Sudanese MR: It’s a little bit complicated! in a context – the cultural context, I think that is why it is beneficial. well. And I think that is going ed them. We had a great class. community. I mean if I can make MR: It’s a lifelong learning. It takes a the historical context – and take I guess that maybe the kids to challenge the views they have Something powerful happened. a wish about what I would like while for you to understand, to see all these contexts together with never did anything cultural back about themselves: “Oh, I’m black. EP: The three participants that to see happening I would like yourself doing the movements – the body movements in the class- home because some of them were Iraqis are different, these people went to New Zealand were them to become my colleagues at you get frustrated. room. And then you have what born in refugee camps. However are Asian.” kids that were not succeeding STARTTS. It is quite a big challenge for any- you normally have in any other their culture is in their blood. It I think that this program has academically and did not have MR: Well this is my dream also. one, even for the person teach- popular cultural practice: knowl- comes from their heritage. While the power to change perceptions a lot of connection to the school I’m not here to hold everything. ing there are a lot of challenges edge that doesn’t involve only that they may never have done anything and views, at least in the small because they weren’t getting the I’m here to share. I will be very involved in achieving emotional small movement but a knowledge cultural their grandmother did. scale. I would like in the future academic accolades for perform- happy to share. STARTTS as an control. All the time you are being that involves how you should be- The connection to their culture for an Iraqi person to tell me, ing Capoeira. organisation will have my stu- tested. You have to have your own have with adults or with your makes a huge difference for them, “I had a woman from Africa But I think their leadership po- dents in the future to teach on control. It’s very powerful. peers, what is the appropriate be- and this is an aspect everyone teach me Capoeira Angola”, and tential has come out of Capoeira. the program. There is a need for haviour on certain occasions and needs to look at when working I think that is much more pow- It has given them a whole new that. It is my dream to have those It’s interesting to me that what isn’t in others. with people with trauma issues. erful than just working with the sense of “I am somebody, my young kids and others teaching Capoeira is a program that is There is knowledge in the music, We often just look at it one way. Sudanese community. skills are valued, I’m acknowl- this art form in the future.

70 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 CAPOEIRA – COUNSELLING IN MOTION 71 AGENDA

Training about Trauma By Belinda Green

For many people in Australia, war and human-to- ing awareness about potential triggers in the work human conflict is a far off reality. Facing persecution environment. The importance of self-care and the and organised violence by government forces, or a possible dangers of vicarious trauma (where workers rogue militia is also a distant truth. But for people are adversely affected by their clients’ experiences) from refugee backgrounds these events are a part of are also highlighted. their life story. STARTTS’ training philosophy aims to deliver Yet, how do we translate these experiences and participatory and engaging workshops. Training their effects to those who are working with refugee programs undergo a thorough review and standard- clients but who have only seen such events on the isation process annually to ensure that they remain news or at the movies? Also, what can we do to con- on the frontline of current research and evidence- vey these experiences without reducing refugees to based material. We maintain a detailed evaluation either helpless victims or extraordinary heroes? At and feedback practice as part of our review process. STARTTS we take these dilemmas very seriously. STARTTS’ approach to training also incorporates Part of our mission and integral to our systemic adult learning principles that recognise the knowl- approach is training mainstream service-providers edge and expertise of participants. Workshop par- about the needs and experiences of people from ref- ticipants include students, volunteers, and workers ugee backgrounds. Our training team aims to assist from the health, community, welfare and educations PHOTO: PHIL CROSSIE and resource individuals and organisations to pro- sectors, as well as other mainstream organisations vide appropriate and culturally sensitive services to and government departments. refugee survivors of torture and trauma. Over the past 12 months STARTTS’ outreach to these trainings. pact of torture and trauma amongst refugee clients. STARTTS’ Training Co-ordinator, Melanie program has performed more than 135 hours of Thanh Nguyen explained that CS child-protec- Hospital staff, mental-health teams and specialist Leemon, and her team oversee a comprehensive training for 2,870 people who work with people tion workers were now better equipped to meet multicultural services within Sydney’s metropoli- training program at STARTTS which includes pro- from refugee backgrounds. the needs and challenges of working with peo- tan and regional areas have sought training from fessional development workshops, seminars, clinical One of the highlights of the past year has been ple from refugee backgrounds as a result of the STARTTS to improve their knowledge and skills master-class evenings, psychevisual online lectures, the design and implementation of a specific train- STARTTS training. on how to work with refugee clients who may be home and community care service workshops, com- ing package for child protection workers from The House of Welcome, a not-for-profit, drop-in affected with posttraumatic stress disorder or have munity sector workshops, and outreach education Community Services (CS). As an organisation, CS centre for asylum seekers also sought training from complex needs as a result of their experiences. across NSW. was interested in finding ways to build rapport, trust STARTTS this year. As volunteer co-ordinator Jo In the coming months, a series of new outreach The most requested and popular STARTTS and connections with refugee communities. Lee explained, “This sector often engages very pas- workshops are being developed in response to re- training is the introductory workshop, which is Thanh Nguyen from the CS Multicultural Programs sionate workers and volunteers. As a result the risk cent developments within the refugee sector. These adapted and delivered according to the needs of Unit had identified that there was a need for case- of over-involvement, burnout, or simply placing an include addressing the needs of asylum seekers and each organisation. workers to understand the “effects of refugee experi- untrained or an unprepared worker into client-sup- unaccompanied minors, as well as creating introduc- The introductory workshop familiarises partici- ences on individual, parental and family wellbeing port roles is an ongoing difficulty.” tory training packages for services that work with pants with STARTTS’ framework and models of and functioning” and to appreciate the way in which Even though the House of Welcome runs its own refugee children and adolescents. approach in working with refugee clients. Some torture and trauma could impact upon people’s trust training and induction program Jo Lee recognised At a recent introductory training course one of of the issues and topics for discussion include up- in government services. the need to provide specialised training in trauma the participants commented that the STARTTS’ to-date information on the global refugee context; By working in collaboration with STARTTS to de- and self-care. workshop reinforced her experiences growing up as the traumatic experiences of refugees in the context sign a training package that dealt with the impacts of Volunteers from the House of Welcome found the a child of refugee parents. The training helped her of organised violence; the ways in which torture refugee trauma on children’s physical, psychological STARTTS training to be particularly helpful in un- to understand some of her parents’ behaviour and to and trauma impact upon the individual, the family, and social development, and how this affects family derstanding the importance of boundaries and strat- further appreciate their experience of fleeing their and the refugee community; and a look at some of dynamics and resettlement, these workshops have egies to maintain workers’ wellbeing. Information on homeland and resettling in Australia. It also con- the issues and difficulties faced during the resettle- been successfully rolled out to 15 CS offices across the signs of trauma and how it impacts upon fami- soled her to know that her father had sought coun- ment process. metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW. lies and communities and practical tips for work- selling at STARTTS. This training also provides participants with some According to Mohamed Dukuly, one of the ing cross-culturally while encouraging workers to be Her comments reinforce the importance of the practical strategies on how to work with refugee sur- STARTTS presenters, developing a partnership be- aware of their own behaviour, including their beliefs work done by the STARTTS training team and vivors, with emphasise on the client’s recovery, effec- tween STARTTS and CS based on their shared un- and values, were also useful. their goal of ensuring that the needs of refugee sur- tive means of interpersonal communication, taking derstanding of trauma and its impact upon children A wide range of service providers have also rec- vivors are met through the delivery of dynamic and into account the complex needs of clients, and rais- and families, was one of the most positive outcomes ognised a need for specialist training on the im- stimulating training packages throughout NSW.

72 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 73 HUMAN RIGHTS

Experts from around the world met in the historic town of Tbilisi, in Georgia, for a four-day conference last October, to share knowledge and continue an international dialogue aimed at combating the effects of gross human-rights violations on victims.

By Janset Berzeg

“Doing Justice, Building Capacity” was the theme of the ninth International Society for Human Health and Human Rights (ISHHR) confer- ence. This time Georgia was the host country as ISHHR is committed to holding conferences in places where there has been a recent experience of conflict. Since 2008, Georgia has had a considerable in- ternally displaced population, the result of its short war against South Ossetia. The recent conflict has created on-going work with survivors of human- rights violations. During the conference, health professionals from all continents had the opportunity to learn about the on-going dispute that has not been settled as yet and the chance to discuss best practices to overcome its effects. Nearly two hundred people attended the confer- ence venue, located in Tbilisi’s Rose Revolution Square, for a diverse program of interactive and in- novative presentations, over four days, that turned International out to be most rewarding. The collective sharing of experiences and the caring spirit of those present shone against the Caucasus mountains backdrop, Experts Combat Gross creating hope for the future. A selection of sessions with valuable practical in- formation was on offer. The quality of presentations, Human-Rights Abuses freshness of workshops, and the personal touch of the organising committee, made it possible to de- liver a premium experience. Eleven university stu- dents, who became known as the Georgian Angels (named by the participants after they handled all the tasks and challenges in an excellent manner), made

PHOTO: GARY TAYLOR

74 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 75 specific to a large group, in cases where tens of thou- The piece was followed by a participatory workshop sands of members of a large group share a compli- where the performer invited the audience to slide cated mourning process, following a massive trauma into a dynamic meditation as a way to trigger a ca- due to natural disasters, man-made accidental disas- tharsis of the different emotions felt by the audience ters, assassinations, terror or oppression. as a result of his performance. He also referred to the importance of holding psy- Finally, he invited participants to express their cho-politically informed dialogues between influen- personal reactions to the images of torture by creat- tial representatives of opposing groups. His speech ing their own images in response, and exploring the helped the audience to separate realities of existing ideas on how to break them. “Doing Justice, Building Capacity” was the theme situations from the psychic realities that are filled It was a touching experience for everyone, one that with prejudices and fantasies. they will always remember. Hector travels the world of the ninth International Society for Human Health Professor Volkan concluded his address by stressing staging his show and after the conference he was and Human Rights (ISHHR) conference. the importance of holding unofficial dialogues -be going to receive the Otto Rene Castillo Award, the tween influential persons and different large-group Nobel Prize of political theatre. identities in the Caucasus so as to achieve a better The main goal of the project was to enable partici- atmosphere for future official dialogues. pants to share key knowledge developed in the field it possible for all of us to unwind and smile. importance of justice and capacity building to over- The second keynote address was delivered by the of health and human rights. At the ninth ISHHR The fresh spirit of the students made the partici- come the effects of gross human-rights violations in charismatic Dr Pau Perez from the Complutense capacity building workshops and conference, prac- pants feel the way we want our clients to feel; cared the world. University of Madrid. Dr Perez’s powerful presenta- titioners learnt from theorists and academics. Those for and supported. Our Georgian Angels told us ISHHR Secretary General Jorge Aroche wel- tion was an eye-opening expedition embedded with with more theoretical than practical knowledge, also that they were thrilled to see that there was hope comed participants, together with Nino Makhashvili fascinating data and evidence. Dr Perez discussed learnt from the practitioners, broadening the learn- for the future, and that we could learn so much from from the Global Initiative on Psychiatry, who suc- some of the challenges associated with the role of ing process. each other. cessfully provided leadership to the local organising psychology and psychosocial work in the struggle to The conference presented a good opportunity for ISHHR has influenced the work and the think- committee for the conference. achieve human rights, as well as outlining the rapid global networking for all professionals who work in ing of our associates in Georgia and throughout the Other speakers were Eva Pastrana who represent- changes of the last century. the area of health and human rights. It was a success world. It is an organisation that builds dialogue and ed the delegation of the European Union to Georgia, He not only presented data outlining the Latin- because of the diversity of presentations given by capacity amongst health professionals engaged in Nora Sveaass from United Nations Committee American context on the many structural conditions people coming from very different countries, with working with individuals and communities affected against Torture, and Zimbabwean Minister of of deep social inequality, but also spoke about pro- very different experiences and perspectives. by human-rights abuses. A great deal was achieved State for National Healing, Reconciliation and cesses of transitional justice in countries with a his- They will now be working towards integrating in Georgia this October. Integration Senator Sekai Masikana Holland. tory of political violence. At the closing stages of these approaches to enable them to better address On the first two days of the event, a set of 10 work- Three concurrent speakers presented in each room his address, Dr Perez stressed some of the global di- both the causes and the symptoms of the problems. shops was offered to participants from 42 different to enthusiastic and participating audiences. The ses- lemmas concerning new forms of social control and What’s more, we all had a chance to experience the countries. Presenters of these intensive courses, all of sions were divided according to themes, as diverse pointed to the need to spread knowledge about is- exquisite Georgian cuisine (everyone should learn whom are experts in their particular area, flew from as: the Right to Health, Capacity Building, War sues related to health and human rights. about mezze from Georgians), taste the renowned across the world to equip participants with new and Trafficking, Justice, Grief, Reparation, Women, Four fruitful and productive days found the perfect Georgian wine, enjoy wonderful traditional dance knowledge and skills that will help them develop Children, Research and Asylum Seekers. The con- finishing touch with a creative solo theatre perfor- performances by the world-famous group Erisioni, their own abilities in combating human trafficking, current sessions and keynote addresses were video- mance about addressing constructive action against and experience uplifting hospitality, and many ad- using creative movement therapies, and in practical recorded by ISHHR’s Psychevisual, which will be all forms of mistreatment. This was a one-of-a-kind ditional acts of kindness. community consultation techniques, bio-feedback, made available online for our colleagues and the performance, which featured torture survivor, pio- Being a member of ISHHR provides multiple op- and responses to mourning and loss – amongst wider public. neering psychologist and actor Hector Aristizábal. portunities to connect with people involved in the many other skills. The first keynote speech of the conference was el- Hector invited participants to explore embodied area of health and human rights and who operate Workshops were followed by two pleasant days at egantly delivered by respected Emeritus Professor knowledge and to challenge the inevitability of vio- in a variety of working environments and willingly the conference that included a variety of concurrent Vamik Volkan, whose presentation was entitled lence, encouraging the audience in this way to use share their experiences and research. presentations on research, justice, reparation, war Massive Trauma at the Hands of Others and Its their imagination as to how they could achieve a ISHHR’s devotion to creating this unique expe- and grief, women, and capacity building topics from Societal/Political Consequences. Professor Volkan more just and joyous life for all people. rience will continue with its tenth event of capac- around the world, along with two absolutely inspir- worked in Georgia for six years following the col- The half-hour performance was based on a true ity building workshops and conference on health ing keynote speeches. lapse of the Soviet Union. He talked about the so- story, experienced by the performer when he was ar- and human rights, taking place at Victoria Falls in The official opening of the conference marked the cietal and political processes that were typical and rested and ill-treated by military forces in Colombia. Zimbabwe in 2014. See you then!

76 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS COMBAT GROSS HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES 77 HUMAN RIGHTS

Colombian-born actor, director and psychotherapist HECTOR ARISTIZABAL directs plays where audiences and actors interact with one another to understand and resolve the burning conflicts of our times.

Theatre of the Oppressed: PHOTO: DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA Influencing Public Opinion Through the Performing Arts

You are also the co-author the conditions that created them. freely sharing stories; when What made you decide to use Interview by Janset Berzeg of “Blessing Next to the Potentially I could also become victims have the opportunity to theatre for peace and justice Wound”, a recently released a torturer or a killer and inflict tell their stories they go behind as an alternative to frontline book about your life story. In damage to another person’s body their trauma. combat? What held you back the book you mention that you or psyche, but I am just not that Trauma is like a layer that covers from joining a revolutionary Can you tell us something I grew up in a low-income suburb were “an angry man who gave kind of person. the story. Stories need to come group despite the very bitter way about who you are, and why on the outskirts of Medellin, angry speeches”. Did you ever I have done that in my imagination out and that’s why I use theatre torture has marked your life? you do what you do? Colombia at a time when there get over your anger? and dreams and I realised I have been techniques to invite people to I didn’t find many of the so- When I think of myself, I think was horrific violence. There were It is more about transforming the able to symbolise my experience. penetrate that armour. called revolutionary groups so of an artist, a father, someone who few jobs and little opportunity for energy rather than getting over The anger is there now to feed my In telling their stories, they revolutionary. In my opinion, their most of all wants to help others education and so it was a prime the anger for me. Anger is the desire to transform society. can work toward healing them- ideological principals don’t match access their own strengths and recruiting ground for Colombia’s energy that allows us to stay alive; selves and their communities. As with their frontline activity and their own gifts. My professional four armies: the government the heat in the body sometimes What is your view on the the Zen monk Claude Anshin there is also a high level of abuse background is in psychology and military, the right-wing death helps us survive so I do not see it reconciliation processes then? Thomas says, healing doesn’t towards poor populations. performing arts but I am also a squads, the revolutionary guerrilla as an opponent. It is important to Much effort is being invested mean that our pain and suffering There is rape, the use of child torture survivor, and what I have groups, and the cocaine mafia. create justice. in the world for truth and goes away. Healing is learning to soldiers for combat and cocaine survived is a major reason why I I buried most of the kids I played If I end up hurting others because restorative-justice models and live in a different relationship with trafficking. I saw them blowing travel the world performing and soccer with. I avoided all four armies, of my anger, say soldiers or none of them are perfect. I our pain and suffering so it does up pipelines supposedly to attack speaking out. but I didn’t expect to live long. corrupt people, I will not change believe in telling the truth and not control us. transnational corporations and

78 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 79 in three main streams, which see the potential consequences. are: my interest in healing and Everybody has something to say psychology; my art form (theatre); not just the so-called experts. and my interest in changing No one knows better than the society (activism). I met Boal person who goes through the in Nebraska, US, in 1998 at a situation. Its dynamic, playful, conference and I utterly identified carries humour; it humanises us. with the way he used theatre to It is unpredictable and connects create dialogue. to the mystery of life and also to I saw how people found a sense what we are witnessing in life. of power with the Theatre of the The recent Occupy Movement Oppressed. Since then, I have used is a great example of what I’m Boal’s methodology as a therapist, trying to say. This is a movement activist and teacher, combined that tries to occupy the places with psychodrama, council circles that have a meaning to us. Behind (drawn from the Native American most institutions and so-called tradition to sustain difficultideas of development there is an conversations) etc. extreme nihilism. We see now the But the spinal cord of the work I spring awakening, and people are am developing is inspired by Boal. trying to occupy their own lives In synthesis I like to use theatre as again. I disagree with those that a laboratory to explore alternatives say the Occupy Movement needs to conflict and in its oldest sense to have a clear message. I believe theatre as a healing ritual. It is a this movement will evolve like means of reconnecting with the the soul, which is the place where

PHOTO: DEEPENDRA BAJRACHARYA roots of our main identity as an humanity transforms itself. individual and as a community The soul, the spirit and the body – and in theatre we bring out all the think of it like in Christianity, but “The more threads that make us who we are. the soul has long been cut off, so causing terrible environmental (las comunidades de paz) told the I realized more and more that I like the power of theatre in humanity was left with the body damage in the process. government that they don’t want the way we best conceive any I participate in creating short plays to show that carries all the burden of life. I never identified with their any armed groups anymore. They movement is by becoming who we the transformation representations of reality – the Occupy is the Movement of the tactics. Instead I found them simply asked to be left in peace are. The more I participate in the difficult realities people saysoul, of the trauma and I am very extremely unimaginative in their and alone. The only reason they transformation of life, the more I of life, the more they are living – and invite the sympathetic to it. analysis on how societies should haven’t yet disappeared is because feel interested in inviting people I feel interested audience to democratise the stage No one knows better than us on be changed. I found theatre and of the international groups that to take charge of the decisions by replacing the main characters. how our lives should be managed. arts more interesting to use as a offer support to the leaders that are affecting their lives. in inviting people They spontaneously change the That’s why now Nightwind is way for different communities of these people. They receive to take charge script to seek a different outcome. performed mostly internationally. to imagine alternatives to their constant threats. Can you tell us how you met I do not tell them what to do. It I am very privileged to be problems, to find out what works From all the revolutionary groups Augusto Boal and how you of the decisions becomes an aesthetic dialogue working for change in different best for them, rather than the that I came across I feel most became involved with the that are affecting that connects us to our bodies places. I take the ideas around fight between economic systems, sympathetic to the structure of Theatre of the Oppressed and and our minds and eventually to Northern Ireland, the Basque like socialism versus capitalism. the Zapatista movement (EZLN) came to create Nightwind? In their lives.” becomes a rehearsal for life. Country, Palestine, Georgia to I am more interested in in Mexico where people take all what way do you portray torture In theatre you can pretend to learn from all these places and it experiences of self-determination decisions themselves. It is a model in your play and what are you hurt someone but they don’t enriches the work so we can all and self-governance. For example that is different from every other trying to achieve by it? really die or get hurt, so it is like learn from each other, rather than in Colombia, Peace Communities guerrilla model in South America. A lot of my work is combined a lab. We look at situations and killing each other.

80 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED 81 AGENDA

Launch of How do you see the current counterinsurgency. They usedParamilitary groups target displaced political situation in Colombia? the excuse of the war on drugs people. Some are displaced twice, “FROM THE DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT” I am also curious to know more but we all know it is to control once from their land and then from about your involvement with populations in South America. places where they seek protection. From the darkness to the light: Australia’s Program Australia, as well as a profile of each member (SOA) School of Americas I like to think there is hope because, There is a great deal of investment of Support for Survivors of Torture and Trauma agency and their services, demographic informa- Watch and your thoughts for example, recently Brazil elected in exploitation. (PASTT) was launched at Parliament House in tion about FASSTT clients across Australia, and about the graduates who were Dilma Rousseff and before that Canberra on 23 June 2011. The report, which was case studies of FASSTT agency services. involved in war crimes and Chile had elected Michelle Tell us something about the funded by the Department of Health and Ageing, STARTTS CEO Jorge Aroche attended the genocide who are still holding Bachelet – two powerful women, Otto Rene Castillo Award was launched by the Hon Mark Butler, Federal launch, accompanied by a number of STARTTS important political positions in left-wing, torture survivors – as for Political Theatre that you Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. managers, together with leaders of 17 community Latin America. presidents of their countries. recently received. RT readers From the darkness to the light is the second organisations. The function provided a valuable School of Americas Watch is Colombia is probably the most will also be interested to publication prepared by the Forum of Agencies opportunity for these leaders to exchange experi- an independent organisation right-wing controlled government hear about the documentary Supporting Survivors of Torture and Trauma ences and information, to see some of the work- that seeks to close the US Army amongst its neighbouring coun- on torture survivors in which (FASSTT), and provides information about the ings of Australia’s Parliament, and to participate in School of the Americas, through tries. It is not an accident that you appear. important work of FASSTT member agencies in the work that FASSTT agencies undertake safe- vigils, demonstrations, nonviolent The prize came as a rewarding combating the effect of torture and trauma across guarding health and human rights. protests, as well as media and surprise, there is no money legislative work. Some of us use “It is not associated with it but there Copies of the report can be downloaded from the FASSTT website: www.fasstt.org.au street theatre and giant puppets to is recognition, which is very tell the story of why we want the about protesting encouraging. I am humbled and School to be closed and create the against the things honoured by it. images of the world that we want. Very recently I have also been I’m now working on a design for we do not want, but involved in a documentary project this year I want to involve as many about creating the titled “Beneath the Blindfold”, people as possible in the creation directed and produced by Ines of puppets and in taking action. images of what we Sommer and Kathy Berger. It is a It is not about protesting against documentary that shows the lasting the things we do not want, but do want.” impact of torture on survivors, about creating the images of what including myself, a Guatemalan we do want. doctor, a Liberian child soldier and SOA has so far trained more a US Navy veteran. than 60,000 South and Central Colombia recently passed a free- Four years ago there was a research American assassins to fighttrade agreement with the US. The poll that said 43 percent of against their own people. The whole country is considered an Americans condone torture. I just current president of Guatemala open-pit mine. hope this film can reach people is connected with mass killings. US involvement is getting worse and help them understand that Another graduate of the SOA in Colombia, the former president, torture is actually not an effective holds office in Honduras. Álvaro Uribe, gave permission to way to get information, that it has Plan Colombia, which was used to the US to set up seven military been discredited by interrogators, militarise my native country, was bases and the US also has control and that it is a dreadful violation designed by an SOA graduate. For of big corporations that are buying of human rights. the US, the strategic geopolitical up Colombia’s natural resources. We hope that the Americans who position of Colombia makes It is not surprising that Colombia see this film will condemn the it the perfect base to control has the largest internally dis- practice. The film was first screened South America. placed population in the whole on 13 January in Chicago, US. We SOA still plays a very important world; mostly consisting of the are hoping for a wider screening role in terms of training the indigenous, the Afro-Colombians throughout the world. officials that are in charge of and the poor farmers.

82 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 83 AGENDA

Refugee Ball 2011: Biggest and Best

The third Annual Refugee Ball was a huge success A range of businesses from across Sydney also with more than 320 guests enjoying the celebrations showed their support by donating prizes for the – our largest number ever. trivia quiz, raffle and auction, while other organisa- On the 2nd of November 2011, at the spectacular tions generously booked tables of 10. Dockside venue at Cockle Bay Wharf, a wide vari- Table sponsors included the NSW Rape Crisis ety of guests, including politicians, advocates, volun- Centre, UnitingCare Burnside, McArdle Legal, teers, refugee community leaders and other support- Auburn Diversity Services Inc., Australian League ers, all enjoyed performances, entertainment and a of Immigration Volunteers, NSW Department gourmet three-course meal. of Education (Equity Team), Parish Patience Despite the unseasonably cold weather, guests put Immigration Lawyers and Joseph Skrzynski and on their suits and cocktail dresses to show their sup- Ros Horin. Also well represented were staff of port, making this year’s Refugee Ball the biggest and STARTTS, who can always be relied upon to have best yet. good time! Award-winning comedian David Smiedt hosted More than $10,000 was raised on the night, all of the event and entertained everyone with his trade- which will go towards STARTTS programmes to mark humour. Keynote speaker for the evening was support refugees. the well-respected mental health expert and 2010 STARTTS, and Friends of STARTTS would sin- Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry, cerely like to thank our hard working volunteers as who spoke of the devastating effects of immigration well as table sponsors, prize sponsors and of course detention on mental health. guests, for making the Refugee Ball a huge success Riz Wakil complemented Professor McGorry’s again in 2011. remarks by poignantly reflecting on his own experi- We look forward to doing it all again in 2012, and ence in the Curtin detention centre. The Ethiopian hope to see you all there! Gospel Choir and the Tibetan Cultural Performance Group displayed their cultural pride through song and dance, while Merenia and the Way got the guests up and dancing to Latin grooves until late To see photos or video of the 2011 Refugee Ball, into the night. go to www.startts.org.au. The 2011 Ball received generous support from many people. VIP guests included The Hon. Adam The 2012 Refugee Ball will be held on the 17th Searle MLC, Mr David Shoebridge MLC, Mr of October. If you would like to attend or support Andrew Rohan MP, Mayor of Liverpool Wendy the Ball, please call us on (02) 9794 1900 or email Waller and The Hon. John Dowd AO QC. [email protected].

84 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 26 85

PHOTOS: JESS HAMILTON DONATE TO STARTTS YES, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP REFUGEES AT STARTTS A Therapeutic Storytelling Program for Children STARTTS works with refugee survivors AMOUNT $ . and Adolescents of war, violence, torture or forced migration. These experiences can be over- I attach my cheque/money order whelming and traumatic. Please debit my credit card (Mastercard/Visa) By donating to STARTTS you will be contrib- uting to the many innovative and life-chang- Card No. / / / ing programs we run to assist individual refu- Expiry date / gees, community groups and young people. Name on card Each year STARTTS helps over 6000 people start new lives in Australia. Your donation can help us do more. Signature I will be making a direct deposit into STARTTS account. STARTTS is a registered charity and all do- Please write ‘STARTTS donation’ in the subject line. nations over $2 are tax deductible. ACCOUNT NAME STARTTS “When I first arrived my memories BSB: 032 072 were strong. I’ve learned not to for- Account number: 114 851 get, but to deal with those memories.” To make an online donation visit www.startts.org.au and click on ‘Donate’.

- Female client YOUR DETAILS Name Tel number “STARTTS helped us lose our Address To order a visions of the past and have a vision Suburb State Jungle Tracks kit, for the future.” please visit - Daniel, counselling client from Burma Postcode Email address www.startts.org.au For more information about STARTTS’ programs or call or making a donation, telephone (02) 9794 1900. (02) 9794 1900 YES, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP Please send your form to: REFUGEES AT STARTTS Public Affairs Coordinator STARTTS PO Box 203 Author: Pearl Fernandes Cover design: Fionna Fernandes Fairfield NSW 2165 Prepared by: Marla Camacho, Angelika Szybiak STARTTS is a registered charity. Your donation is tax deductible.

Jungle Tracks Training Manual for Facilitators © STARTTS 2009 The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) helps refugees deal with their past experiences and build a new life in Australia. Our services include counselling, group therapy, programs for children and young people, community development activities and physiotherapy. We also work with other organisations and individuals to help them work more effectively with refugees. Opened in 1988, STARTTS is one of Australia’s leading organisations for the treatment of torture and trauma survivors.